New Soft Tissue Masses Guidelines
1st Oct 2024
Soft tissue masses (STMs) are a common indication for patients presenting to their general practitioner. There is a broad range of benign and malignant pathologies that may cause these masses. Making a differential diagnosis can be difficult and imaging is often used as an adjunct to clinical examination and history.
The imaging of STMs may involve one or more Imaging Modalities depending upon the specific presentation with each modality having strengths and limitations.
In recent years, the use of diagnostic ultrasound has increasingly been requested as the first line investigation for STMs. Due to the variability in their presentation and appearance, it has become important for ultrasound practitioners to acquire a significant amount of technical and clinical knowledge in order to identify, categorise and report these scans accurately.
These guidelines have been developed to assist with the differential diagnosis of the STMs using ultrasound in this complex area. They have been written by a small group of experienced musculoskeletal sonographers with help and support from BMUS Musculoskeletal special interest group.
They focus on the use of ultrasound for the identification of STM, and in particular, the interpretation and reporting of ultrasound findings by registered healthcare professionals working within an imaging department or community-based services.
Produced by: Hall, A.,Simm, K., Drury, C., Green, K., Boucher, L. Griffin, C., Kirkpatrick, C., French, H, With help and support from the BMUS Musculoskeletal Ultrasound Special Interest group.