<human>: My husband was diagnosed with a Popeye muscle on his bicep in Nov 2016. He s was told to use ice and heat on it until Dec. when a dermatologist suggested seeing a specialist. Saw the orthopedic PA who took X-rays and said ice and heat. Two days later the surgeon saw us because of the extreme pain, ordered blood work, a CAT scan, and an MRI. Technique: multi planar multi sequence MRI of the right shoulder without intravenous contrast on Jan. 24, 2017. Indication: right/deltoid plemorphic Sarcoma. The ortho doc never mentioned sarcoma and had he done the MrRI further down the arm they would have realized there were tumors below the elbow. The surgeon did surgery on Feb. 3, 2017. He said he d removed the mass/tumor that presented as the Popeye muscle, and sent it into pathology, calling 3 days later with the news. We were referred to the Sarcoma clinic at the Lemon Holton Cancer Center in Grand Rapids MI. After the plan was presented, radiation then surgery. The only problem is, they did 5 treatments on the upper arm, and only when I told the Radiation Oncologist he was to have radiation below the elbow too, the last two treatments have included all infected areas. My question is, has this compromised his lower arm? The sarcoma Oncologist said the arm was already contaminated by doing the first surgery. My husband is 70 years old, extremely active, golf, water aerobics, wood workers, etc. we don t want his arm useless.
<bot>: Hello, Radiation treatment usually encompasses the area the tumor was and the area where the tumor is likely to recur. In the case of sarcoma, the tumor usually recurs locally.  Whether the lower arm will be included in the radiation portal depends upon the size of the tumor, best visualized on MRI. In order to help answer your query better, I would like to know more details about the case. Hope I have answered your query. Let me know if I can assist you further. Take care Chat Doctor. 