title: Superficial soft-tissue masses of the extremities.
abstract: Superficial soft-tissue masses are among the most common indications for imaging of the extremities. A broad array of benign and malignant processes may be manifested in palpable cutaneous or subcutaneous masses or nodules. Most such lesions are treated with surgical excision, but some may be conservatively managed. The lesions can be differentiated according to their location in one or more skin layers (epidermis, dermis, and subcutis), their histologic composition, and the associated anatomic abnormality or disease process. Because the imaging characteristics of many benign soft-tissue lesions overlap with those of malignant ones, knowledge of the patient's clinical history (including any laboratory test results) and direct visual examination of the lesion often are important for differentiation. Histologic analysis may be necessary to achieve a definitive diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, New Jersey Medical School, University of Medicine and Dentistry, University Hospital, C-320, 150 Bergen St, Newark, NJ 07103-2426, USA. blacksin@umdnj.edu
authors.forename: Marcia F
authors.initials: MF
authors.lastname: Blacksin
authors.forename: Doo-Hoe
authors.initials: DH
authors.lastname: Ha
authors.forename: Meera
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hameed
authors.forename: Seena
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aisner
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007089:Image Enhancement / Q000379:methods*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D017410:Practice Guidelines as Topic; D010818:Practice Patterns, Physicians'; D012878:Skin Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*