The Difference in Clinical Features between Small-Sized Soft Tissue Sarcomas and Benign Tumors

Summary: Background: Small-sized tumors tend to be resected without thorough assessment and are often managed in a sarcoma center after a malignancy is diagnosed. The lack of knowledge about the features of small-sized sarcomas may lead to unplanned resection. The features of small-sized soft tissue sarcomas were investigated by comparing them with those of small benign soft tissue tumors. Methods: We included 17 soft tissue sarcoma cases (7 on the hands and feet and 10 on the limbs and trunk) with a diameter of under 2 cm. The features of small-sized sarcomas were compared to those of 39 benign soft tissue tumors with a diameter of under 2 cm and non-specific imaging findings (30 on the hands and feet and 9 on the limbs and trunk). The investigated features were age, sex, presence of pain, subjective increasing tumor size, and duration of observation. Results: When we compared the tumors in the hands and feet, those <40 years of age (5/7 [71%] vs. 8/30 [27%], p=0.03) experiencing pain (7/7 [100%] vs. 13/30 [43%], p=0.007) were more common in patients with sarcomas than in patients with benign tumors. When we compared the tumors in the limbs and trunk, there was no significant difference in all investigated features. Conclusion: Although clinical features were ineffective in distinguishing malignancy in most small-sized soft tissue tumors, we should pay attention to painful tumors of the hands and feet in younger patients.