Differential Diagnosis for Unknown SC Mass
- Single most likely diagnosis
- Lipoma: This is the most common benign soft tissue tumor, often presenting as a slow-growing, painless mass in the subcutaneous tissue.
- Other Likely diagnoses
- Cyst (epidermoid, sebaceous, or dermatoid): These are common benign lesions that can present as a lump under the skin.
- Abscess or infected cyst: An abscess is a collection of pus that can cause a painful lump, while an infected cyst can also present as a painful mass.
- Hematoma: A collection of blood outside of blood vessels, which can occur due to trauma or bleeding disorders.
- Soft tissue sarcoma (e.g., liposarcoma): Although less common, these malignant tumors can present as a growing mass in the subcutaneous tissue.
- Do Not Miss diagnoses
- Metastatic tumor: Although rare, a subcutaneous mass can be a metastasis from a primary cancer elsewhere in the body, such as the breast, lung, or gastrointestinal tract.
- Inflammatory or infectious process (e.g., cellulitis, erythema nodosum): These conditions can cause a painful, tender mass and require prompt treatment.
- Lymphoma (cutaneous T-cell lymphoma): A type of cancer that can present with skin lesions or masses.
- Rare diagnoses
- Neurofibroma: A benign tumor of the nerve tissue, which can present as a soft, fleshy mass.
- Granuloma (e.g., foreign body granuloma): A rare, benign lesion that can occur in response to a foreign substance.
- Panniculitis (e.g., erythema nodosum, Weber-Christian disease): Inflammatory conditions that can cause painful, tender masses in the subcutaneous tissue.