title: Sarcoma the great "masquerader" hematoma/deep vein thrombosis manifestation.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The clinical presentation of patients with soft-tissue sarcoma is highly variable. Most patients present with a painless mass, typically one that is increasing in size, and few have systemic symptoms such as fever, weight loss, or malaise. Soft tissue sarcomas can initially present as, or even be misdiagnosed as, deep venous thrombosis (DVT), leading to a late diagnosis.
  
  
  METHODS
  A 51-year-old woman presented to the hospital with complaints of pain and swelling in her left thigh, interpreted as an infected hematoma with an associated deep vein thrombosis and treated accordingly. The patient presented to our emergency department two more times. In the last visit and due to an unresolving clinical scenario a MRI and surgical byopsies were made that confirmed a sarcoma diagnosis.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When a patient presents with an expanding, nontraumatic mass simulating a haematoma, several other differential diagnoses should be considered including aneurysm, bleeding tendency, chronic expanding haematoma and soft-tissue sarcoma. The growth of the tumor undetected while being treated for the DVT and then posteriorly for the hematoma, was without a doubt dismal to the patient, so earlier diagnosis would have been preferable.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  When a patient presents with an unusual history of hematoma in the extremities, it is necessary to consider the possibility of a malignant soft tissue tumor.
authors: Rua Dr. Eduardo Torres, 4464-513 Senhora da Hora, Portugal. Electronic address: Jorgenunovalverde@gmail.com.
authors: J
authors: J
authors: Valverde
authors: Rua Dr. Eduardo Torres, 4464-513 Senhora da Hora, Portugal.
authors: M
authors: M
authors: Vinagreiro
authors: Rua Dr. Eduardo Torres, 4464-513 Senhora da Hora, Portugal.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Gouveia
authors: Rua Dr. Eduardo Torres, 4464-513 Senhora da Hora, Portugal.
authors: P
authors: P
authors: Koch
authors: Rua Dr. Eduardo Torres, 4464-513 Senhora da Hora, Portugal.
authors: V
authors: V
authors: Soares
authors: Rua Dr. Eduardo Torres, 4464-513 Senhora da Hora, Portugal.
authors: T
authors: T
authors: Gomes
keywords: Deep vein thrombosis; Hematoma; Sarcoma; Thigh mass