Fingers and feet are common sites of cysts or other benign (noncancerous) soft tissue lumps. One of the most common soft tissue masses in the hands and feet is a superficial or intramuscular lipoma, which is a slow-growing, benign fatty lump.

Soft tissue sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that starts as a growth of cells in the body's soft tissues. The soft tissues connect, support and surround other body structures. Soft tissues include muscle, fat, blood vessels, nerves, tendons and linings of the joints.

MRI is the most accurate modality for diagnosing soft tissue masses because it can provide further information regarding adjacent anatomic structures, presence of necrosis, border definition ...

About half of soft tissue sarcomas start in an arm or leg. Most people notice a lump that's grown over time (weeks to months). The lump may or may not hurt. When sarcomas grow in the back of the abdomen (the retroperitoneum), the symptoms often come from other problems the tumor is causing.

Basics of soft tissue masses. Soft tissue tumors are cell growths that emerge nearly anywhere in the body: in tendons, muscles, ligaments, cartilage, nerves, blood vessels, fat, and other tissues. Patients commonly refer to these masses as lumps or bumps. See Figures 1 and 2.