sierra logo

Soft Tissue Surgery Q&A

Why would I need soft tissue surgery for a noncancerous tumor?

Not every benign (noncancerous) lump, bump, or mass requires surgical excision. However, some soft tissue tumors grow large enough to cause significant pain or cosmetic concerns and may eventually interfere with the healthy function of nearby muscles, joints, or organs.

Whether you plan surgery or not, the Sierra Pacific Surgical team recommends a medical assessment and biopsy for any new or growing lump or mass to rule out cancer.

What are cancerous soft tissue tumors?

Cancerous soft tissue tumors are called sarcomas. About 70 different types of these relatively rare tumors can develop in muscles, fat, blood vessels, nerves, tendons, or tissues lining your joints. Symptoms vary depending on tumor type and location.

Angiosarcoma, for instance, affects the blood vessels and most often appears in the skin of the head and neck. Symptoms include a raised lesion resembling a bruise that may bleed when scratched or bumped.

Leiomyosarcoma, on the other hand, affects smooth muscle tissue. This type often starts in the abdomen or uterus and may cause significant pain, weight loss, and a quickly enlarging palpable mass.

Regardless of the type, the first line of treatment for sarcoma is soft tissue surgery. Your Sierra Pacific Surgical provider makes every effort to remove the tumor entirely, which may be the only treatment necessary.

What can I expect during soft tissue surgery?

Following a biopsy to determine whether the mass is cancerous, your Sierra Pacific Surgical team provides specific details about your surgery, including expectations and aftercare instructions, before scheduling your procedure.

Your surgeon makes every effort to remove the tumor entirely, along with 1-2 centimeters of surrounding tissue. A pathologist assesses the tumor tissue margins carefully for cancer cells.

If the margins are clear, you may not require further treatment other than routine monitoring visits to check for signs of tumor regrowth. If the margins aren’t clear, your cancer care team and surgeon develop additional treatment strategies, sometimes including further surgery.

Committed to remaining at the forefront of advancing technology, the team at Sierra Pacific Surgical offers the most innovative, minimally invasive surgeries available for effective soft tissue tumor excision. 

They’re also experts at repairing the tumor site with implants or grafts as necessary for an acceptable cosmetic outcome.   

Contact their office today to schedule an evaluation. Call or request an appointment online.