Evaluation of the soft tissue mass

Although soft tissue sarcomas account for less than 1% of all malignancies, the physician evaluating the patient who has a soft tissue mass must always weigh the possibility of an underlying malignancy, thus avoiding undue delay in diagnosis and treatment. Unplanned excision of the 'benign clinical soft tissue mass' can have a potentially devastating consequence (31). Although an unsuspicious soft tumor mass can be observed or removed, the approach presented in this study for defining and evaluating the suspicious soft tissue mass should serve as a useful primer. Adequate staging, a thorough understanding of the local anatomy, and biologic aggressiveness of the tumor influences the subsequent management of a soft tissue sarcoma.