Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Soft tissue tumors are those that develop in the connective tissue as opposed to bone. Skeletal muscle, fat, tendons, fibrous tissue, nerves and blood vessels are all considered soft tissue. Malignant, or cancerous, soft tissue tumors are referred to as sarcomas.
Soft tissue sarcomas may occur in any part of the body, but are most frequently found in the head, neck, abdomen, trunk, arms or legs. There are a number of different types of soft tissue sarcomas that vary depending on the tissue in which the malignancy initially occurred.
Risk Factors for Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Some people may face an increased risk of developing soft tissue sarcomas. Risk factors that may be associated with this condition may include:
- Certain inherited disorders
- Previous radiation therapy treatment
- Exposure to some types of chemicals
- Chronic lymphedema
Symptoms of Soft Tissue Sarcoma
The symptoms that may arise from a soft tissue sarcoma can vary depending on where the tumor has formed. Often, if it is on an arm or leg, the patient will notice a small, painless bulge beneath the skin. In cases where the sarcoma has formed within the abdomen, however, it may remain asymptomatic until it reaches a fairly large size. At that point, the sarcoma may begin to place pressure on nerves, muscles, blood vessels or organs in the area and cause pain or difficulty breathing.
Diagnosis of Soft Tissue Sarcoma
To diagnose a soft tissue sarcoma, a biopsy is performed. A portion of the tumor or the entire tumor will be removed to be analyzed in a laboratory. This provides the doctor with information about the cancer that helps determine the best course of treatment.
Treatment of Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Soft tissue sarcomas are typically treated with surgery. The tumor is removed along with a margin of surrounding tissue to maximize the chances of eradicating all cancerous cells and preventing recurrence. Some patients may require radiation therapy or chemotherapy in addition to surgery.