A neuroma is a non-cancerous tumor that can grow anywhere in the body you find nerve cells. However, the absence of cancer doesn't make these tumors easy to ignore. A growing neuroma can impose upon the surrounding organs and tissue. A neuroma of the chest can affect the heart and lungs as well as restrict blood vessels in the areas surrounding the tumor. Depending on the severity of the tumor, doctors may choose one of several treatments for neuroma of the chest.
Observation
Because neuroma is a benign tumor, it doesn't always require immediate action. Some neuromas grow slowly and, if they're caught early, will take time to grow to a size that will impact neighboring organs and cells. For example, an elderly patient diagnosed with a neuroma in the chest may never require invasive treatment because the tumor won't cause any disabling symptoms during the patient's normal life expectancy. Doctors and patients together can weigh the potential risks and complications of treatment with the severity of symptoms, and careful observation and monitoring of the neuroma can be a viable treatment option. A patient with a neuroma of the chest under observation will undergo regular MRI or CT scans to monitor the growth of the tumor.
Surgery
Doctors perform delicate surgery to remove all or portions of the neuroma if symptoms become severe. Neuroma of the chest can affect heart and lung function if it grows large enough, making surgical removal of the tumor a necessity. Done under general anesthesia, this surgery requires a skilled cardiologist to both remove the tumor and repair any potential damage done to the heart. A general surgeon also may be on hand if additional surgery is required. The duration of the surgery and the patient's hospital stay depends on the size and location of the neuroma.
Radiation
Usually performed as an outpatient procedure with the patient under local anesthesia, radiologists can target the neuroma of the chest with radiation in hopes of stopping the growth of the tumor. Unlike many cancer treatments, which require multiple doses of radiation to kill the tumor, patients with neuroma of the chest can see results after just one treatment. Radiation is an effective treatment option both to stop tumor growth to avoid surgery and to treat remaining tumor tissue if the entire tumor wasn't removed during surgery.
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