How is a nerve tumor surgically removed?
Before surgery on a benign nerve tumour, an MRI examination is always performed to precisely localize and characterize the tumour. Depending on the size, location and presentation in the MRI, a biopsy of the tumor is also carried out before surgery in order to obtain further information about the tumor biology. For surgical removal, the nerve must be visualized before and after the tumour and the tissue growth must then be dissected out of the nerve. In certain cases, this is carried out under the surgical microscope and under electrophysiological control in order to preserve all intact nerve fibers as much as possible. If relevant parts of a nerve have to be removed, these can be reconstructed directly with a nerve graft.
Risks of an operation
After removal of a benign nerve tumor, nerve function may be temporarily impaired with local pain, loss of sensation or even paralysis. In rare cases, it can also lead to a permanent loss of nerve function.