Inadvertent excision of malignant soft tissue tumours

Abstract

□ Inadvertent excision of lumps which turn out to be sarcomas is not uncommon. □ Imaging has a limited role in detecting microscopic residual disease but can show the extent of the previous surgical field. □ Standard treatment is wide re-excision, usually combined with radiotherapy. □ Residual tumour is found in an average of 50% of reported cases. □ The presence of residual disease is an adverse prognostic factor. □ All lumps bigger than a golf ball should have a diagnosis prior to excision.