Clinical Examination
This is the medical term for a localized swelling
What is a lump or mass?
This is a benign tumour of mature adipose tissue that often feels soft and mobile beneath the skin
What is a lipoma?
These structures commonly enlarge in the neck, axilla and groin in response to infection.
What are lymph nodes?
This is a protrusion of tissue or an organ through a weakness in the wall that normally contains it.
What is a hernia?
This is the first step in assessing a new lump: establish its onset, duration, progression and associated symptoms
What is taking a focused history?
These are five important features to document when describing a lump on examination: size, site, consistency, mobility and this fifth feature.
What is tenderness?
This common skin lesion often has a central punctum and may contain keratinous material.
What is an epidermoid cyst?
A smooth, mobile lump in the anterior neck that moves on swallowing suggests an enlargement of this gland.
What is the thyroid gland?
A groin swelling becomes more prominent on coughing or straining and may reduce when the patient lies down. This diagnosis is likely.
What is an inguinal hernia?
A lump that is red, hot, painful and associated with fever may indicate this condition.
What is an infection?
A lump that feels fluid-filled on palpation is described using this term.
What is fluctuant?
A painful, warm, red, fluctuant swelling containing pus is most consistent with this diagnosis.
What is a cutaneous abscess?
A patient has a new breast lump. This combination of assessment methods is commonly used to evaluate it.
What is triple assessment: clinical assessment, imaging and tissue sampling when indicated?
This bedside manoeuvre may help distinguish a suspected hernia from other groin lumps.
What is asking the patient to cough or strain while observing and palpating the swelling?
This imaging modality is often the initial investigation for a superficial soft-tissue lump when the diagnosis is uncertain.
What is ultrasound?
A lump is fixed to underlying structures, irregular and hard. These features raise concern for this broad category of disease.
What is malignancy?
A patient presents with a rapidly enlarging, painful skin swelling, fever and surrounding erythema. This potentially serious associated process must be assessed.
What is spreading soft-tissue infection or cellulitis?
An adult has a persistent, unexplained, firm cervical lymph node. This possibility must be considered, particularly if there are other concerning features.
What is malignancy?
A hernia becomes irreducible and is accompanied by severe pain, vomiting and abdominal distension. This complication must be suspected.
What is an obstructed or strangulated hernia?
A patient presents with a testicular lump that is painless, firm and does not transilluminate. This serious diagnosis must be excluded.
What is testicular cancer?
When examining a lump, you find it pulsates expansilely. Before attempting any invasive procedure, you must consider this type of lesion.
What is an aneurysm or other vascular lesion?
A patient has a presumed lipoma that is deep, enlarging and greater than 5 cm. This is the next important step rather than simply excising it in a routine setting.
What is urgent specialist assessment and appropriate imaging for possible soft-tissue sarcoma?
A patient has generalized lymphadenopathy, fever, night sweats and unexplained weight loss. This broad group of serious conditions must be investigated.
What are haematological malignancies, including lymphoma and leukaemia?
A pulsatile abdominal mass is found in an older patient with abdominal or back pain and haemodynamic instability. This life-threatening diagnosis must be urgently considered.
What is a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm?
A patient has a painful, rapidly expanding pulsatile mass with hypotension. This is the immediate management priority.
What is emergency resuscitation and urgent vascular/surgical intervention, without delaying for nonessential investigations?