Research Article
Routes to Diagnosis for Suspected Sarcoma: The Impact of Symptoms and Clinical Findings on the Diagnostic Process
Table 3
Patient reported initial symptoms.
| Initial symptom | Sarcomas () (%) | Other malignancies () (%) | Benign () (%) |
| Noticed lump | 67 (65.7) | 27 (39.7) | 194 (51.7) | Noticed indentation of the skin | 1 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.3) | Mobile lump | 0 (0.0) | 2 (2.9) | 2 (0.5) | Noticed swelling | 7 (6.9) | 7 (10.3) | 34 (9.1) | Soft lump | 1 (1.0) | 1 (1.5) | 2 (0.5) | Lump with discharge | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.3) | Hard lump | 4 (3.9) | 0 (0.0) | 8 (2.1) | Previously removed lump recurred | 6 (5.9) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (0.8) | Noticed skin change/wound | 4 (3.9) | 3 (4.4) | 3 (0.8) | Itching | 1 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) | 4 (1.1) | Redness | 1 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) | 5 (1.3) | Pain | 27 (26.5) | 24 (35.3) | 135 (36.0) | Bother/pain related to pressure on lump | 6 (5.9) | 0 (0.0) | 13 (3.5) | Night pain | 1 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) | 5 (1.3) | Pain or stiffness in the morning | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.3) | Pain related to movement | 5 (4.9) | 4 (5.9) | 23 (6.1) | Tenderness | 6 (5.9) | 4 (5.9) | 37 (9.9) | Radiating pain | 4 (3.9) | 1 (1.5) | 12 (3.2) | Sensation of tightness | 2 (2.0) | 2 (2.9) | 3 (0.8) | Reduced strength | 2 (2.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.3) | Sensibility disturbances | 3 (2.9) | 1 (1.5) | 8 (2.1) | Sensation of heaviness | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.3) | Reduced ability to practice sports | 1 (1.0) | 1 (1.5) | 8 (2.1) | Problems with walking | 4 (3.9) | 1 (1.5) | 11 (2.9) | Reduction of movement ability | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.5) | 11 (2.9) | Started after a trauma | 6 (5.9) | 8 (11.8) | 34 (9.1) | Started after exercise | 1 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) | 5 (1.3) | Clicking sound from joint | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (0.5) | Slipping sensation in joint | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (0.5) | Joint locking | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 5 (1.3) | Sensation of snap in muscle | 0 (0.0) | 2 (2.9) | 1 (0.3) | Fever | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.3) | Hot flushes | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (0.5) | Sleep disturbances | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (0.8) | Weight loss | 0 (0.0) | 2 (2.9) | 3 (0.8) | Lump discovered by others | 5 (4.9) | 1 (1.5) | 19 (5.1) | Noticed blood in underwear | 1 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | Bluish skin | 1 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) | 2 (0.5) | Fatigue | 0 (0.0) | 2 (2.9) | 8 (2.1) | Occurred in relation to pregnancy | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 3 (0.8) | Dizziness | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.5) | 2 (0.5) | Occurred after mononucleosis | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.3) | Hematuria | 2 (2.0) | 1 (1.5) | 0 (0.0) | Flank pain | 2 (2.0) | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | Fracture | 1 (1.0) | 1 (1.5) | 0 (0.0) | Occurred after insect bite | 1 (1.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.3) | Yellow skin | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.5) | 0 (0.0) | Shortness of breath | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.5) | 0 (0.0) | Constipation | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.3) | Night sweat | 0 (0.0) | 1 (1.5) | 0 (0.0) | Intermittent pain | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 9 (2.4) | Headache | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.3) | Warm skin | 0 (0.0) | 0 (0.0) | 1 (0.3) |
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Patients may have more than one initial presenting symptom.
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