Soft Tissue Tumor Diagnosis

Soft tissue tumors are tumors originating from non-epithelial tissues, with diverse types and varying differentiation levels. Malignant tumors may rapidly invade surrounding tissues or metastasize to distant sites. Without early diagnosis and appropriate treatment planning, patients may quickly progress to advanced stages. Modern medicine relies on imaging, pathology, and other techniques to make comprehensive judgments and precise diagnoses for this disease.

Diagnostic Basis

1. Imaging examination as the key to initial evaluation
Soft tissue tumors are usually preliminarily detected and localized through imaging methods such as ultrasound, CT, and MRI. MRI has advantages in distinguishing tumor boundaries, tissue characteristics, and infiltration into surrounding structures, especially effective in assessing tumors of the limbs and pelvic region. CT can help determine whether the tumor is calcified or has invaded bone tissue.

2. Pathological biopsy as the core method for confirmation
Tissue biopsy is the “gold standard” for confirming the nature of soft tissue tumors. Core needle biopsy or incisional biopsy provides tumor specimens for pathological analysis. Pathology determines whether the tumor is benign or malignant, its grade of differentiation, and any chromosomal abnormalities, directly guiding treatment planning.

3. Immunohistochemistry and molecular testing provide classification support
Based on pathology, immunohistochemical staining helps confirm the origin and characteristics of tumor cells. Some sarcomas express specific markers such as S-100 and Desmin. Molecular biology testing, such as FISH or PCR techniques, can identify specific fusion genes, aiding accurate classification of tumors like liposarcoma and synovial sarcoma.

4. Blood tests and tumor markers as auxiliary assessments
Although soft tissue tumors generally lack specific serum markers, some patients may develop anemia, leukocytosis, or elevated LDH levels during disease progression. For high-risk patients, doctors may combine blood test results to assess systemic reactions or predict recurrence risk.

5. Systemic metastasis evaluation cannot be ignored
For patients suspected of malignant soft tissue tumors, systemic examinations such as chest CT, abdominal ultrasound, or PET-CT should be performed early to determine the presence of distant metastases (especially lungs and liver). This helps not only in staging but also in guiding treatment strategies and prognosis assessment.

6. Intraoperative frozen section for margin assessment
During some surgeries, frozen section analysis is used to quickly evaluate resected tissue and ensure clear margins, reducing the risk of local recurrence. This method is particularly applicable to recurrent or poorly defined tumors, enhancing treatment safety and completeness.

Conclusion

Diagnosis of soft tissue tumors relies on multiple complementary methods, not only to determine the nature of the lesion but also to evaluate tumor extent and systemic condition. Experts at United Life International Medical Center recommend that patients with unexplained masses undergo standardized, multi-level diagnostic processes as early as possible to ensure effective subsequent treatment.