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Superficial Soft-Tissue Masses: Analysis, Diagnosis, and Differential Considerations¹

¹ From the Departments of Radiology (F.D.B., M.J.K.) and Dermatology (T.R.A., J.H.K.), Mayo Clinic, 4500 San Pablo Road, Jacksonville, FL 32224-3899; and Department of Radiologic Pathology, Armed Forces Institute of Pathology, Walter Reed Army Medical Center, Washington, DC (M.J.K., M.D.M., L.K.A.). Recipient of a Certificate of Merit award for an education exhibit at the 2005 RSNA Annual Meeting. Received April 26, 2006; revision requested June 12 and received July 26; accepted July 31. All authors have no financial relationships to disclose. Address correspondence to M.J.K. (e-mail: kransdorf.mark{at}mayo.edu).

A wide variety of superficial soft-tissue masses may be seen in clinical practice, but a systematic approach can help achieve a definitive diagnosis or limit a differential diagnosis. Superficial soft-tissue masses can generally be categorized as mesenchymal tumors, skin appendage lesions, metastatic tumors, other tumors and tumorlike lesions, or inflammatory lesions. With regard to their imaging features, these masses may be further divided into lesions that arise in association with the epidermis or dermis (cutaneous lesions), lesions that arise within the substance of the subcutaneous adipose tissue, or lesions that arise in intimate association with the fascia overlying the muscle. The differential diagnosis may be limited further by considering the age of the patient, anatomic location of the lesion, salient imaging features, and clinical manifestations.

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