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Consistency

Last reviewed dd mmm yyyy. Last edited dd mmm yyyy

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It is very difficult to describe a lump in terms of degrees of softness or hardness. It is best to try and correlate the 'feeling' of a lump with a scale of objects that have different consistencies eg - stony - a lump that cannot be indented - rubbery - again this is a hard lump. However the lump is slightly squashable although it returns immediately to its former shape when pressure is removed - spongy - a lump that is squashable and returns to its former shape - however it has less resilience than a rubbery lump - soft - this type of lump can easily be indented - it has no resilience

Note that it is not possible to say from the consistency of a lump what that lump is composed of. For example if a lump is composed of fluid but is contained in a cyst under high tension then it may feel stony hard.

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