Is that lump or bump a tumor? You need to find out

• Have you noticed a bump that feels like a small pea under your skin?
• Do you have a hard, reddish-brown skin growth on your arm or leg?
• Have you found a little fatty lump near a joint?

“If you discover a lump or bump, it's very important to see a doctor promptly to have it evaluated," says Daniel Zanotti, MD

“At the Center for Orthopedics, our orthopedic surgeons are trained to identify a number of different 'lumps and bumps,' some of which can turn out to be more serious, such as tumors," Dr. Zanotti explains.

What is a tumor?

A tumor is simply an abnormal growth of body tissue. The key question when a tumor is discovered is whether it is malignant (cancerous) or benign (non-cancerous). “Finding a lump can be a scary time for patients," Dr. Zanotti acknowledges. “But we have access to tumor specialists and can get you in to see them if necessary."

Many tumors are benign

“Fortunately, many times these lumps and bumps turn out to be very benign—simple things that can be handled quite easily in our office," says Dr. Zanotti.

There are several kinds of benign lumps and bumps:

• Ganglion cysts are very common around the wrists and feet.
• Lipomas are little fatty lumps that can appear near various joints. This is the most common type of non-cancerous soft-tissue tumor. Sometimes a lipoma will go away on its own. If it doesn't, it may require surgical removal or drainage.