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We recently have had three patients, who received improper soft tissue tumor biopsy at other hospitals or clinics, transferring to our hospital for detailed physical and radiological examinations. The pathological reports indicated malignant soft tissue tumor; as a result, patients had to receive larger range of lumpectomy and adjuvant chemotherapy or irradiation therapy. The topical reoccurrence rate, distance metastasis, and amputation increases.

• The first case is a female patient, age of 35, with a tumor in the left calf. The clinic she went misdiagnosed it as lipoma and removed it directly. However, it reoccurred a few months later. The patient transferred to our hospital and was diagnosed with malignant fibrous histiocytoma. The tumor was removed and the patient is now receiving adjuvant irradiation therapy.
• The second case is a female patient, age of 20, with a tumor in the left wrist. The hospital she went misdiagnosed it as ganglion cyst and removed it directly. However, the pathological report indicated malignant dermatofibrosarcoma. The patient transferred to our hospital for more detailed examinations and did not discover distance metastasis. She was recommended to receive irradiation therapy first and lumpectomy evaluation later. It is concerned that the patient has a high risk of amputation.
• The third case is a male patient, age of 65, with a tumor in the left arm. The patient was misdiagnosed with lipoma, which was removed, at the other hospital. However, the pathological report indicated malignant fibrous histiocytoma and the tumor reoccurred a few months later. The patient was transferred to our hospital to have a large range lumpectomy and receive adjuvant irradiation therapy. The patient’s recovery is going well.

Tumor Biopsy to Confirm Diagnosis

• When patients have soft tissue tumors in the limbs and detailed clinical physical and radiological examinations cannot confirm diagnosis, doctors will recommend patients to have a tumor biopsy to confirm diagnosis. It is a simple pathological procedure; however, it is a very crucial step for the treatment plans in the future.
• According to the statistics by US Mayo Clinic, 18% of patients with tumor in musculoskeletal system received improper tumor pathological biopsy and needed to change treatment plans and 5% of them eventually faced amputation.

Pathological examination is simple, yet is a very crucial step for a holistic treatment plan later on. Thus, it is possible to minimize the regret when detailed physical and radiological evaluations are done precisely and experienced pathologists, orthopedists, and radiologists work together to provide confirmed diagnosis and complete treatment plans.