Surgical oncology
Soft tissue sarcoma surgery
Wide removal of a tumour arising in muscle, fat or connective tissue — with imaging and planning before any biopsy, because how the biopsy is done matters.
In plain language
What this operation is
A soft tissue sarcoma arises from the supporting tissues of the body — muscle, fat, nerve sheath or connective tissue. It usually appears as a lump that is painless, deep to the skin, and growing.
The features that raise concern are size, depth and growth: a lump larger than a golf ball, one that sits below the muscle layer, or one that is getting bigger.
One point matters more here than in most cancers. Imaging should come before biopsy, and the biopsy should be planned so that its track can be removed with the tumour later. A biopsy done carelessly can make the definitive operation larger than it needed to be.
Who it is for
When this operation is advised
- A deep lump that is growing, particularly if larger than a golf ball
- A lump that has returned after previous removal
- A mass on imaging with features suggesting sarcoma
- A lump below the muscle layer rather than in the skin
And when it is not. Most lumps in the soft tissues are benign — lipomas are far more common. The concern is depth, size and growth, not the presence of a lump alone.
How it works
From assessment to follow-up
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01
First consultation
History, examination and review of every report and film you already have. Bring the actual films, not only the printed summaries.
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02
Diagnosis and staging
Biopsy confirms the diagnosis; imaging establishes how far the disease has gone. No treatment plan is made before this.
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03
The plan
Whether surgery is the right step, and in what order relative to chemotherapy or radiotherapy — agreed with you before anything is booked.
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04
Treatment and follow-up
The operation where appropriate, then the pathology report, and continuing follow-up.
Afterwards
What recovery involves
Recovery differs between patients. What follows is what usually happens — your own timeframe is given at discharge, based on the operation you actually had.
- Recovery depends on the operation performed and on your general health.
- A written discharge plan, wound-care guidance and a follow-up appointment are given before you leave.
- The pathology report usually takes some days and is discussed with you at follow-up.
- Whether further treatment is advised is decided once that report is available.
When to go to hospital instead
Rapid swelling, severe pain, or loss of sensation or movement in a limb needs urgent assessment.
Common questions
Questions patients ask
Anything not covered here can be answered at the consultation.
01 I have a lump under my skin. Should I worry?
Most soft tissue lumps are benign. The ones that warrant proper assessment are those that are growing, are larger than a golf ball, or sit deep below the muscle layer rather than in the skin.
When to worry02 Why should imaging come before biopsy?
Because the biopsy track has to be removed along with the tumour at the definitive operation. Planning where the biopsy goes — after imaging shows what is there — keeps that operation as small as it can safely be.
Planning03 What does wide excision mean?
Removing the tumour together with a margin of surrounding healthy tissue, rather than shelling it out. That margin is what reduces the chance of it returning locally.
SurgeryNext step
Bring your reports to a consultation
Often one visit is enough to know whether an operation is needed at all.