Have you noticed a small lump or bump under your skin? An ultrasound scan can quickly and safely determine whether a lump or bump under the skin is a cause for concern or not. If you have searched for “ultrasound for lump”, Vista Health offers rapid access to private ultrasound scans and expert clinical reporting.
Here, we explain how ultrasound is used to assess soft tissue lumps and explore some of the most common types.
The Role of Ultrasound in Evaluating Lumps
Ultrasound, also known as sonography, uses high frequency sound waves to create images of the soft tissues and internal organs of your body. It does not use x rays or powerful magnets.
A lumps and bumps ultrasound scan is a quick, painless and safe way to investigate small lumps and swelling under the skin.
During a scan, sound waves are released by a small device called an ultrasound probe. The probe is moved over the area to be investigated. The sound waves bounce back whenever they encounter a boundary between areas of different densities.
The reflected sound waves are picked up by the ultrasound probe. Unlike X rays, CT or MRI scans, a computer processes these signals in real-time to create live greyscale images of your tissues.
An ultrasound scan can help determine whether a lump is solid, fatty or fluid-filled, helping to guide diagnosis and any further investigations that may be needed.
Understanding Soft Tissue Lumps
Soft tissue lumps can be benign or malignant tumours. Benign tumours are growths that are not cancerous. Malignant tumours are cancerous growths.
The most common soft tissue lumps are lipomas, cysts and swollen lymph glands. More rarely, a lump may be a soft tissue sarcoma, a type of cancer that develops in the body's connective tissues.
Lipomas
A lipoma is a lump of fatty tissue that forms under the skin and can develop anywhere on the body. It is soft, usually has a dome shape, and can shift positions slightly when pushed.
Lipomas are not cancerous. They are harmless and, in most cases, do not cause any pain. However, larger lipomas can sometimes cause discomfort, particularly if they press on nearby tissues.
Cysts
A cyst is a fluid-filled sac that is not cancerous. Cysts that form near the surface of the skin feel firmer than a lipoma and do not usually cause pain.
However, they can become painful if they become infected or are often disturbed eg a cyst on the top of your head can become irritated whenever you brush your hair. In these cases, it may need to be drained using a fine needle.
Sarcomas
A sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that occurs in any of the soft tissues, including muscle, ligaments, tendons, fat and blood vessels. When a sarcoma forms under the skin, it feels like a hard lump that does not move. It does not initially cause any painful symptoms but becomes painful as it grows.
Sarcomas need treatment with surgery and other therapies (e.g. radiation therapy and chemotherapy) to prevent the spread of cancer.
An ultrasound scan cannot provide an accurate diagnosis of sarcoma but is helpful in providing differential diagnoses or direction to additional investigation such as a biopsy to confirm a diagnosis.
Swollen lymph glands
A lump under the skin can also be caused by swelling of the lymph nodes, which are found throughout the body, most notably in the neck, throat and groin (where your abdomen meets your thighs). The lymph nodes are part of the lymphatic system that filters lymph fluid for harmful substances, such as bacteria and abnormal cells.
Lymph nodes can become swollen when you have an infection e.g. tonsillitis, a cold or glandular fever. This swelling usually goes away after 1–2 weeks. However, swollen lymph glands can also be a sign of blood cancers.
How a Soft Tissue Ultrasound is Performed
There is no special preparation needed for an ultrasound scan. You can eat, drink and take any medications as usual before an ultrasound scan.
Depending on the location of the abnormal area to be examined, you may be asked to change into a hospital gown and sit or lie down on an examination table.
A gel is applied to the ultrasound probe or to the part of your body to be imaged. A gel is applied to the skin or ultrasound probe to eliminate air gaps, which can interfere with the transmission of sound waves.
Your scan will be performed by a sonographer. They will move the probe across your body, applying some gentle pressure. Live images will be transmitted to a monitor.
Once your ultrasound scan is complete, you can get changed and return to your usual activities.
At Vista Health, we aim to send you a report with your results within 3 working days. Every report is overseen by a radiologist or clinical specialist sonographer.
Get Your Lump Checked
If you are concerned about a lump under your skin, you can book a private ultrasound scan with Vista Health without a referral from a doctor. Simply self-refer and book online at one of our nationwide clinics.
Sources
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/soft-tissue-sarcoma/tests-and-next-steps/
https://patient.info/skin-conditions/lipoma-leaflet
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/skin-cyst/
https://www.nhs.uk/conditions/soft-tissue-sarcoma/what-is-soft-tissue-sarcoma/