Soft tissue tumor case studies
Open access
Peer reviewed
Scollr summary
What this paper is about
This essay argues that desmoid tumours represent a paradigmatic 'liminal diagnosis', in which inconsistent clinical language has the capacity to compound psychological and social distress.
Full abstract
Read the full abstract
Desmoid tumours are rare, locally aggressive soft tissue tumours that occupy an ambiguous space between benign and malignant disease. Biologically benign, lacking metastatic potential, desmoid tumours frequently recur despite treatment, and cause substantial morbidity through local invasion, organ involvement and associated chronic pain. This biological ambiguity is mirrored by wide variation in language with patients variously told their tumour is 'benign', 'borderline' or 'cancer'. Drawing on patient experience, psycho-oncology literature and concepts from medical anthropology, this essay examines how diagnostic terminology in desmoid tumour care carries weight beyond mere semantics. It argues that desmoid tumours represent a paradigmatic 'liminal diagnosis', in which inconsistent clinical language has the capacity to compound psychological and social distress. By shaping treatment, relationships and well-being, language exerts a powerful influence that remains largely overlooked in research and clinical practice, highlighting the need for research investigating the direct impact of language on care and the patient experience.
Direct answer
What can I do from this paper page?
Use this page to scan "The liminal diagnosis: how language shapes identity and care in desmoid tumours" quickly: start with the summary and abstract, then check the authors, source, topics, and related papers. From here, open Scollr to follow Soft tissue tumor case studies research, save the paper, or map adjacent work.
Research areas
Follow related topics
Citation
BibTeX
@article{Clark2026liminal,
title = {The liminal diagnosis: how language shapes identity and care in desmoid tumours},
author = {Brendan J. Clark},
journal = {Medical Humanities},
year = {2026},
doi = {10.1136/medhum-2026-013859},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1136/medhum-2026-013859}
}FAQ
Using this paper in a discovery workflow
How do I find related work for this paper?
Use the related papers and topic links on this page as starting points. In Scollr, you can also open the paper and build a literature map around its references, citing papers, and related work.
How can I keep up with new Soft tissue tumor case studies research papers?
Follow Soft tissue tumor case studies research in Scollr. New papers from the topic flow into a personalized feed, and you can save useful studies to revisit later.
Can I cite this paper from this page?
This page includes a static BibTeX block for The liminal diagnosis: how language shapes identity and care in desmoid tumours. Always verify the DOI, source, and publication details against the publisher record before submitting a manuscript.
Follow this research in Scollr
Follow the topics and authors behind this paper, save useful studies, and build a literature map when you are ready to go deeper.
Get the app