Diagnosis

Tests and procedures used to diagnose malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors include:

• Neurological examination. A detailed, comprehensive neurological examination helps your doctor understand your symptoms and gather clues about your diagnosis.
• Imaging tests. Imaging tests help doctors understand the size of a tumor and look for signs that cancer has spread to other areas of the body. Imaging tests may include an MRI, magnetic resonance neurography, CT and positron emission tomography (PET).
• Removing a sample of tissue for testing (biopsy). A biopsy sample may be obtained by a radiologist before surgery or by a surgeon during surgery. The tissue is sent to a laboratory for specialized testing. The information gathered in the lab may help your doctor better understand your prognosis and your treatment options.