Yvette (54) a journalist from Kent, started experiencing pain in her hip seven years ago in 2015. An ex-national gymnast who had been incredibly active and flexible her whole life, Yvette felt concerned about the growing discomfort impacting her quality of life, and so sought help from her GP.
Peripheral nerve tumours
Benign or malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumours.Tumours can develop around the nerve, often leading to pain and the loss of movement. In most cases, these tumours are benign and can be removed with surgery.
Our PNI surgeons diagnose and treat benign and malignant peripheral nerve tumours using advanced techniques
What are nerve tumours?
Nerve tumours can develop within your nerves. As the nerves carry vital signals from your brain to the muscles in your body (allowing you to move and feel sensations), tumours can lead to loss of movement and pain if malignant. In most cases, the tumours are benign and can be removed with surgery.
Need to know
Benign (non-cancerous) tumours grow slowly within the nerve, causing it to expand and press down on the nerve fibres. This causes pain, numbness and a lump under the skin. While most peripheral nerve tumours are benign, some are cancerous (malignant). In these cases, it's more likely to cause loss of function and pain.
Your consultant will discuss your symptoms with you and help to make a diagnosis. They will examine the lump and order further tests.
These include:
- an MRI scan to see your soft tissues and nerves
- a CT scan to get a detailed picture of how a tumour may affect your nerves and body
- an electromyogram (EMG) to record electricity in your muscles
Crucially, your consultant will order biopsies on the tumour to see if it's cancerous and to determine treatment. Here, a small collection of cells is sent away for testing.
If a tumour is benign, they don't normally reoccur. Malignant tumours are removed promptly, through surgery. The surgeon will also take a small amount of healthy tissue to ensure they have caught all the cells. This is followed by chemotherapy and radiation therapy.
Mr Marco Sinisi - Peripheral Nerve Specialist
At HCA Healthcare UK, we work with leading consultants to enable access to the the latest techniques and treatment.
Mr Marco Sinisi is our lead consultant for Peripheral Nerve Injuries based at The Wellington Hospital. Mr Sinisi has a comprehensive knowledge of nerve injuries and has experience in a wide range of nerve problems from trauma through to sports injuries. He is experienced in managing complex nerve conditions as well as performing complex nerve operations.
Patient stories
Yvette's story: From back pain to hip replacement surgery
A new hip and straight back into the spin of things
David’s gym video shows him repeatedly pushing up to 100kg on a single leg press – not particularly unusual for this keen cyclist, former competitive squash player and all-round fitness enthusiast. What is unusual is that 52-year-old David had hip surgery just 12 weeks earlier.
Michael's MAKO hip surgery to treat his arthritis
73 year-old Michael, an avid walker and charity worker, was diagnosed with arthritis in January 2021. After facing long waiting times and increasing pain that was becoming more frequent, he started to look elsewhere for treatment.
This content is intended for general information only and does not replace the need for personal advice from a qualified health professional.