Non-neoplastic Soft Tissue Tumors and Tumor-like Lesions

Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2020 Dec;24(6):645-666. doi: 10.1055/s-0040-1713606. Epub 2020 Dec 11.

Abstract

Clinicians are commonly faced with patients presenting with a solitary palpable soft tissue mass. Most soft tissue lesions are benign, and not every mass is due to a neoplastic process. Many pathologies can mimic a malignant tumor. Despite appropriate clinicoradiologic assessment, these lesions can be mistaken for a soft tissue sarcoma and can lead to multiple investigations or an intervention, inconveniencing patients and leading to an increased health care cost. With the relevant clinical history, clinical examination, and specific imaging characteristics, the diagnosis can be narrowed. We present a pictorial review of soft tissue sarcoma mimics with guidance on appropriate differential diagnoses.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Diagnosis, Differential
  • Humans
  • Sarcoma / diagnostic imaging*
  • Sarcoma / pathology
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / diagnostic imaging*
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / pathology