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What Does A Painless Mass On Chest Indicate?
Question: I had a fall back in July in which I remember bruising my left chest wall down a little from my arm pit region. I also hurt my shoulder. I fell through the joists while repairing deck boards on my front porch. I braced my fall by extending out my left arm. I was more worried about my shoulder but my chest wall did hurt for a while but not too bad. 6 months later I have a painless mass in my left chest wall region that my PC want to have removed. I am seeing a general surgeon on Monday. Do you have any thoughts on this? I am concerned about a Sarcoma? Thank you! XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
It needs to be diagnosed before any decision.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
First of all it is necessary to know what this mass is build of. It can be a hematoma (even 6 months post injury), rib "scar", benign soft tissues lesion or if it grows quickly even a sarcoma (however its very rare).
Hematoma can appear due to injury. If its large enough, can stay in soft tissues for months without any symptoms. It can also cause some pain.
Rib "scar" can appear after rib injury. You could not notice it. And it could be missed by your doctor as well. In the broken rib area usually a hard lump appears. It is because the bone is being rebuild.
Benign soft tissues lump like a lipoma is always possible an can be not related to the injury.
Injury can be a factor of sarcoma appearance. But as I said it is very rare. It is characteristic for this type of tumors to start growing after some injury. The growth is quite fast and constant. If I were your treating doctor, I suggest you to have chest x-ray, ribs x-rays and soft tissues ultrasound done. If possible you can get the test done before you will visit a surgeon.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
It needs to be diagnosed before any decision.
Detailed Answer:
Hello!
Thank you for the query.
First of all it is necessary to know what this mass is build of. It can be a hematoma (even 6 months post injury), rib "scar", benign soft tissues lesion or if it grows quickly even a sarcoma (however its very rare).
Hematoma can appear due to injury. If its large enough, can stay in soft tissues for months without any symptoms. It can also cause some pain.
Rib "scar" can appear after rib injury. You could not notice it. And it could be missed by your doctor as well. In the broken rib area usually a hard lump appears. It is because the bone is being rebuild.
Benign soft tissues lump like a lipoma is always possible an can be not related to the injury.
Injury can be a factor of sarcoma appearance. But as I said it is very rare. It is characteristic for this type of tumors to start growing after some injury. The growth is quite fast and constant. If I were your treating doctor, I suggest you to have chest x-ray, ribs x-rays and soft tissues ultrasound done. If possible you can get the test done before you will visit a surgeon.
Hope this will help. Feel free to ask further questions.
Regards.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
Hello,
I thought it was weird that my PC did not want to order tests also. It is hard to tell how fast it grew but I have been watching it for a couple of months and it looks the same size to me. Would MRI be better?
I hear that chest x-rays can give a good dose of radiation. I guess it is natural for my mind to think Cancer right away. But I am glad to hear it is very rare. I did not even make the connection between that fall I had and the swelling until recently. Thought that was over and done with. If he decides to do a biopsy how fast do the results typically take? Thank you again.
XXXXXXX
I thought it was weird that my PC did not want to order tests also. It is hard to tell how fast it grew but I have been watching it for a couple of months and it looks the same size to me. Would MRI be better?
I hear that chest x-rays can give a good dose of radiation. I guess it is natural for my mind to think Cancer right away. But I am glad to hear it is very rare. I did not even make the connection between that fall I had and the swelling until recently. Thought that was over and done with. If he decides to do a biopsy how fast do the results typically take? Thank you again.
XXXXXXX
Brief Answer:
X-ray gives minimal dosage of radiation, MRI is not necessary in this case.
Detailed Answer:
Single x-ray done on the digital unit gives really minimal radiation. MRI would be better, but it is an expensive test and ultrasound with x-rays (which are faster and much cheaper) are enough for sure. MRI should be done if x-rays results will be inconclusive.
Cancer is really hardly possible.
It takes approximately 2 weeks for biopsy results.
Regards.
X-ray gives minimal dosage of radiation, MRI is not necessary in this case.
Detailed Answer:
Single x-ray done on the digital unit gives really minimal radiation. MRI would be better, but it is an expensive test and ultrasound with x-rays (which are faster and much cheaper) are enough for sure. MRI should be done if x-rays results will be inconclusive.
Cancer is really hardly possible.
It takes approximately 2 weeks for biopsy results.
Regards.
Note: For further follow-up it is advisable to consult an emergency medicine specialist. Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Prasad
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