Soft Tissue Sarcoma Diagnosis

If you feel a lump or experience symptoms that might be caused by a soft tissue sarcoma, you should report them immediately to your doctor. Your doctor will attempt to find out what is causing the symptoms by asking you about the history of the symptoms. If your lump is painful, for instance, your doctor will want to know about the pain, including when it started and if there are things that make it worse. The doctor may also ask about possible risk factors, such as your family history. 

The doctor will also do a careful physical exam. If you have a lump, your doctor will determine its size and shape and the effect it has had on surrounding areas. Depending on what your lump feels like and where it is, your doctor may order a biopsy to obtain a sample of the tissue in the lump. This will determine if the lump is a soft tissue sarcoma. Once the biopsy is done, your doctor may do one or more of these tests to obtain additional information:

These tests can help show if there is a growth, where it is, and sometimes whether it has spread. On occasion, one or more of these tests may be done prior to a biopsy. Your doctor may use the results to determine the cause of the problem, or he or she may order more tests. If your doctor does not order a test, it is OK to ask why it is not necessary.