DesertBloom

Hi cmorg: There are a lot of soft tissue masses that don't show up on an x-rays. I had one on my lower lumbar area that is still extremely painful, and it took 3 tests before they actually saw the mass on the films. The lump could be seen by the Drs, but no one knew what it was. I had x-rays, and a ultra sound and nothing showed up. My osteo Dr, finally took over and, ordered a ct scan with and without contrast and they decided it was a fatty tissue mass from one of my back surgeries, and not cancer, since there was no fluid in it. Supposedly the radiologist should be able to tell whether or not it looks like cancer, so that is how they determine whether or not to do a tissue biopsy. My problem is that it is so painful and is only getting worse. The only thing anyone can come up with is that this mass must be sitting on my sciatic nerve causing the pain. I would like to have it removed, thinking it would stop the pain, but no one is willing to give it a shot, because of the possible nerve involvement.

So it's best to stay on top of this to see what it is. If you can't get an answer to it, the last option would be a biopsy, but I would try other things first to avoid this unless it becomes necessary. Have you ever had any cancer treatment? It didn't sound like it from your post, but I hate to assume. If so, lumps in that area aren't unusual as a result of chemo or radiation. But hopefully that doesn't apply.

If it was a broken rib it should show up on an x-ray, but it wouldn't surprise me too much if the Drs don't take it that seriously since rib fractures are usually only treated with a rib belt until it heals. Since your lump sounds like hard tissue, then biopsing it would be harder to do, but still doable. If it was some type of calcification it would show up on a ct scan or mri.

Good luck following through on this, I hope you get to the bottom of it.