Neuroma originally was defined as a tumor of a nerve. (Neuro- is from the Greek for nerve). Today, neuroma commonly refers to any tumor of cells of the nervous system.^[1] though some use the term only to describe tumors of the cell of the nerve and related fibers.^[2]

Because of the ambiguity inherent to the term, it is usually better to use a more specific description when possible.

Neuromas can be either benign or malignant.

Types

Non-tumors

Although the "-oma" suffix usually is usually reserved for tumors, the term "neuroma" is also sometimes used for conditions that are not usually considered tumorous:

• Traumatic neuroma follows different forms of nerve injury (often as a result of surgery). They occur at the end of injured nerve fibres as a form of uneffective, unregulated nerve regeneration; it occurs most commonly near a scar, either superficially (skin, subcutaneous fat) or deep (e.g., after a cholecystectomy). They are often very painful. It is also known as "pseudoneuroma".^[3]

• Morton's neuroma (a mononeuropathy of the foot) is not considered a tumor in modern sources,^[4] and therefore cannot be considered a true neuroma. The name is entrenched, and remains commonly used, but "Morton's metatarsalgia" is more accurate.

True tumors

According to ICD-O and MeSH, the term "Neuroma" refers to a nerve sheath tumor. Subtypes include:

• Neurinoma (Neurilemmoma) - a benign slow growing tumor of the neurolemma (myelin sheath) of a nerve fibre.

• Acoustic neurinoma (or "acoustic neuroma")

Ganglioneuroma could be considered a type of neuroma, though it is not a nerve sheath tumor.

References

1. ^ Neuroma at eMedicine Dictionary
2. ^ n_07/12569500 at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
3. ^ n_07/12569601 at Dorland's Medical Dictionary
4. ^ -664076278 at GPnotebook