soft-tissue sarcoma?

[frootbar]

hi,
i developed a mass in my left forearm, it developed in about a weeks time or so, accompanied by
some fluid in the arm, and the skin was slightly reddish, and felt like it was on fire.
about 2 weeks or so later, the swelling went down, the burning had long left, and there was this
lump in my forearm.  it's under the skin, you have to bend the hand back to reveal the lump for
physical exam.
i had it ultrasounded, the radiologist said indeed there was was appeared to be an encapsulated lump, but he could not say what it was, he figured it was not ominous but was honest in that he said
he could be wrong.
i had a follow up mri just recently, and am awaiting the results.
no biopsy yet.  the lump is still there, it seems to cause a "pinching, tiny pain" when moving the
arm in certain motions or when doing certain things, not massively painful, but it gets your attention.
this is a new symptom.  it doesn't feel like the lump is larger, but, it kind of feels like the problem is
maybe...travelling down the tendons or something, as i could be mistaken or just too imaginative, but
it feels like the tendons are a bit enlarged or something.  i feel the mass is pressing on a nerve or
some such thing.
the not knowing, i have to totally admit, is making my anxiety massive.  i have no idea what this is
and while i realize it's a possible fatty lump with no consequences, it is also possible it is not.
thanks for any input and comfort.
or, even if your experiences suggest a sarcoma, that's ok too, i just want to know what it is or what
it most likely is.  i will deal with it regardless.
thanks.
f.b.

[frootbar]

oh, and i've had persistent high ck without obvious cause, and dealt with a hilar adenopathy possibility and eosinophilia about 8 months back, CT showed clear aside from two tiny liver cysts.
i've had rollercoaster anemia, however all seems ok right now.  myalgia is often present. thanks.

[Fernando Roque, MD]

Hi. There's no way of knowing for certain what that lump is unless a biopsy is done, but since the mass is encapsulated, and seems to have developed only recently, my guess is it's not malignant. But this is just an educated guess.

I understand your anxiety about the whole thing, but I suppose the best thing to do is to wait out the lab results and have the biopsy done soon.

[frootbar]

thank you for the info and comments,
i've had this lump since about april/may this year.
i totally understand the biopsy is necessary, my physician
said the next step was a question mark, but i didn't understand
that thinking, since the biopsy would, you would think show
conclusively what it is, anyway, thanks again.