Differentials
Lipoma
SIGNS / SYMPTOMS
INVESTIGATIONS
SIGNS / SYMPTOMS
Soft, often subcutaneous masses. Mobile on palpation; size change unusual; usually <5 cm.
INVESTIGATIONS
Usually simple structure on imaging; PET scan cold.
Gastrointestinal ulcer
SIGNS / SYMPTOMS
INVESTIGATIONS
SIGNS / SYMPTOMS
May be clinically indistinguishable from gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GISTs).
INVESTIGATIONS
No mass seen on CT/MRI scan.
Lymphoma
SIGNS / SYMPTOMS
INVESTIGATIONS
SIGNS / SYMPTOMS
Nodal disease is often associated with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma and is unusual in sarcomas.
INVESTIGATIONS
Histology staging investigations from biopsy can differentiate.
Metastatic carcinoma
SIGNS / SYMPTOMS
INVESTIGATIONS
SIGNS / SYMPTOMS
History of primary-site tumour; weight loss; older age.
INVESTIGATIONS
Histology staging investigations from biopsy can differentiate.
Neuroma
SIGNS / SYMPTOMS
INVESTIGATIONS
SIGNS / SYMPTOMS
Change in size or pain related to size change.
INVESTIGATIONS
Positive emission tomography imaging; MRI to define local invasion.
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