Soft Tissue Masses: Diagnosis and Surgery for Benign and Cancerous Tumors (Sarcoma)
Last updated Friday, January 18, 2008
Prognosis and impactsHow serious is masses? Is masses chronic? Most soft
tissue tumors emerge spontaneously. They merit attention because they could be
cancerous. A sprain or hematoma that lasts longer than six weeks merits
additional medical scrutiny for the possible presence of a soft tissue tumor.
The
risk of recurrence is related to the type of tumor, the adequacy of initial
surgical excision, and the tumor’s location. Rarely, people are genetically
predisposed to have soft tissue masses (e.g., neurofibromatosis, in which
tumors grow on nerves).Is masses deadly? Most soft-tissue
tumors are benign. Large masses are more cause for worry. Patients who notice a
mass more than 5 cm (2 inches) at its longest point, or which is painful to the
touch, should consult a physician.
A soft-tissue
sarcoma (cancerous growth) can be a lethal disease. For instance, synovial
sarcoma is an aggressive cancer that accounts for 7 percent to 10 percent of
soft-tissue sarcomas, and usually develops in the arms or legs of young adults.
Research shows that as few as 25 percent of those patients with disease that
has metastasized, or spread, to other parts of the body survive five years. Will masses cause pain? The
majority of soft tissue masses are painless -- unless they are irritating a
nerve nearby – and this is a primary reason why many masses are not diagnosed
until they have developed significantly in size. Soft tissue masses may cause
skin discoloration if blood flow increases to the region or if veins are
distended, but usually skin around the mass retains its normal color.Will masses be debilitating? Prompt
and accurate diagnosis is important to help avoid debilitating complications. Soft
tissue tumors often are not physically debilitating, at least initially, and
this contributes to their ability to grow undetected. Patients who notice a
mass more than 5 cm (2 inches) at its longest point, or which is painful to the
touch, should consult a physician.
A
sarcoma (cancerous growth) could result in amputation of an arm or leg or
functional loss of a limb. A benign tumor could, in some cases, be debilitating
too. For example a soft tissue mass deep in the pelvis could impede the
function of an organ, such as the bowel, or interfere with local nerves or
blood flow.Will masses cause discomfort? In some
cases, a soft tissue tumor could cause a patient discomfort, especially if
there is local irritation of a nerve or blood vessel. A tumor on someone's foot
could impede his or her ability to wear shoes and walk comfortably. A mass
pressing against the stomach could cause discomfort with the patient's
digestion, and similarly, a mass next to the rectum could cause constipation.Is masses curable? Some
of the 50 subtypes of sarcomas (cancerous growths) are curable with a
combination of surgery, chemotherapy and/or radiation. Other sarcomas are more
aggressive and more challenging to treat.Will masses change the patient?s ability to have children or get pregnant? In
most cases, a soft tissue tumor in and of itself will not impede one’s ability
to have children or get pregnant. Sometimes, chemotherapy can interfere with
the function of the ovaries or testes. Therefore, any patient planning for a
pregnancy should have a thorough discussion with her medical oncologist.Will masses change the patient's independence? The
body has an amazing capacity to recover from many surgeries in which soft
tissue masses are removed. In many areas of the body, muscles are redundant and
can compensate well for removal of muscle or soft tissue. In some cases,
however, a soft tissue tumor could affect a patient's independence; for
example, surgeons might have to remove a nerve to effectively remove a sarcoma
(cancerous growth), requiring a patient to wear a brace or follow a program of physical
therapy to regain full mobility. Sarcomas that result in amputation of a limb
could change a patient's independence dramatically. Thankfully, modern
prosthetic devices have been particularly successful for restoration of
independence in the amputee population.Will masses change the patient's ability to move about? Depending
on its location, a soft tissue tumor could affect a patient's mobility. For example,
a tissue mass on a patient's foot or pressing against a patient's nerve could
reduce mobility. Similarly, surgeons might have to remove a nerve or muscle to
effectively remove a sarcoma (cancerous growth), which could compromise
mobility.Will masses alter activities of daily living (e.g. work, sports, housework, etc.)? A
soft tissue tumor could inhibit or change a patient's ability to maintain daily
work tasks or activities. A tumor on a patient's finger or hand could impede
typing, for instance; a tumor that involves a nerve could cause a patient to
reduce his or her activities because of pain or functional deficit.Will masses cause fatigue or changes in metabolism? A soft
tissue mass in and of itself usually does not cause fatigue or changes in
metabolism. A newly found mass may elicit patient anxiety which may lead to
fatigue.
Chemotherapy
treatment for a sarcoma (cancerous growth) could cause a patient fatigue, as
well.Will masses require a change in diet? Soft
tissue tumors typically do not require changes in diet.Will masses have implications for relationships, social support, and interactions with family? A sarcoma
(cancerous growth) or benign tissue mass may have implications for social
relationships. For example, a tissue mass that affects a patient's sexual function could affect social relationships.
People
who are diagnosed with soft tissue tumors are often anxious because of the
presence of their mass and need strong social support to help them through the
diagnosis and possible treatment. It is important to remember that treatment
helps the majority of patients with these tumors, enabling individuals to live
full, active lives.What other impacts might masses have on the patient's life? Is it contagious, disfiguring, etc.? Nerve
or muscle disability might result from a surgeon’s resecting of those tissues
to remove a tumor. Rarely, an amputation is needed to effectively treat a
sarcoma (cancerous growth). Research suggests that children have an easier time
adjusting to an artificial limb than adults.Surgery for masses at the University of Washington If you are interested in making an appointment to discuss this procedure, you can request an appointment using our online referrals website. To request a referral online, please click here. You can also call 206-598-4288 (outside the Seattle area: 800-440-3280) to make an appointment.
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