Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Pathophysiology: A soft-tissue sarcoma is a form of sarcoma that develops in connective tissue, though the term is sometimes applied to elements of the soft tissue that are not currently considered connective tissue.

Symptoms: In their early stages, soft-tissue sarcomas usually do not cause symptoms. Because soft tissue is relatively elastic, tumors can grow rather large, pushing aside normal tissue, before they are felt or cause any problems. The first noticeable symptom is usually a painless lump or swelling. As the tumor grows, it may cause other symptoms, such as pain or soreness, as it presses against nearby nerves and muscles.

Treatment: The stage of the sarcoma is based on the size and grade of the tumor, and whether the cancer has spread to the lymph nodes or other parts of the body (metastasized). Treatment options for soft-tissue sarcomas include surgery, radiation therapy, and chemotherapy. Surgery is the most common treatment for soft-tissue sarcomas. It is important to obtain a margin free of tumor to decrease the likelihood of local recurrence and give the best chance for eradication of the tumor.

Statistics: Demographic and treatment data, based on 1613 adult patients reported to the Scandinavian Sarcoma Group Register by sarcoma centers in Norway, are presented. They all had STS of the extremities or trunk wall, and were diagnosed between 1986 and 2005. mong patients with final treatment for primary tumor at a sarcoma center (n = 1331), the surgical margins were wide or better in 76% of subcutaneous lesions, and in 58% of deep-seated lesions.