Neurologic cancers affect the peripheral or central nervous systems. Besides schwannomas, which are cancers of the Schwann cells that ensheath the peripheral nerves, cancers that affect the peripheral nervous system can arise from other body tissues. These cancers could impinge on the nerves, influencing or blocking nerve conduction.

Cancers of the central nervous system in adults are predominantly the result of metastatic tumors, such as those that originated in the lungs and breast. The most common primary brain tumors are astrocytomas, of which, GBM (glioblastoma multiforme) is the most common and most lethal. Additional brain tumors may include pineocytomas, medulloblastomas, ependymomas.