title: Lymphoma presenting as an intramuscular mass.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Resection of an intramuscular mass without tissue diagnosis can lead to unnecessary surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  During a 4.5-year period 19 previously healthy patients referred with an undiagnosed soft tissue tumour were found to have intramuscular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In seven patients this was the only focus of disease (Stage IE). Patients were treated with chemotherapy or radiotherapy alone or in combination.
  
  
  RESULTS
  After mean follow-up of 43 months all of the patients with stage IE lymphoma are alive and disease free.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Primary intramuscular non-Hodgkin's lymphoma has a good prognosis. The importance of a tissue diagnosis by needle core biopsy is emphasized.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgery, Chelsea and Westminster Hospital, London, UK.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Hill
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Dunn
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Thomas
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001707:Biopsy, Needle; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008228:Lymphoma, Non-Hodgkin / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009379:Neoplasms, Muscle Tissue / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000188:drug therapy / Q000532:radiotherapy