Growth identification

My wife has had a few small melanomas removed over the years, she is now 80, but as a result of waiting over a year for the NHS to remove another melanoma on her leg, we decided to have this removed privately.

Another diagnosis was needed and she was referred to a consultant dermatologist. he confirmed the malanoma and also noticed a lump in the superaclavicular region which he said was a lymph node. He referred her to a plastic surgeon who then arranged a CT scan and also a FNA to biopsy the growth.

Removal was suggested and the operation was performed end of May this year. It turned out to be a Schwannoma Tumor and unfortunately the nerves were affected during the operation resulting in her left hand being frozen.

My wife has suffered with Anxiety and depression for many years but this has been controlled with Risperidone and Venlafaxine satisfactorily. However, with the operation looming she was getting wound up and finding her hand frozen after the opertion has increased her anxiety greatly. We have seen the GP and increased the medication, but she cannot stand to be on her own, cannot properly wash or dress herself or cook meals or drive her car, with the thought of this problem continuing, is getting worse.

The hand has eased slightly but she cannot grip anything and from further appointments with hand and nerve specialists it seems that the nerves were not cut, but pressure on the nerves has caused the problem. Further nerve tests are arranged as well as many more outpatient appointments.

**The reason for my post is to enquire why the Schwannoma was so difficult to diagnose before the operation compared with a lymph node? After all the CT scan and FNA should have shown what it was.

As the Schwannooma differs from the lymph node, I am wondering if this plastic surgeon was the right person to carry out the operation with it's more complex relationship to nerves in the neck?

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