Soft tissue sarcoma is a rare cancer that affects the soft tissue or supporting structures of the body, with the first sign being a lump or swelling. It can be diagnosed through a biopsy and treated with chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. It is associated with certain genetic disorders and environmental factors.
Soft tissue sarcoma is a form of cancer that affects the soft tissue or supporting structures of the body. It most often arises in connective tissue such as tendons, ligaments, fascia, fat, and synovium of joints, but can also occur in other soft tissues, including nerves, muscles, and blood vessels. Soft tissue sarcoma is rare and comprises about 50% of new tumors. It is more common in people over the age of XNUMX, but other risk factors or causes have not been conclusively identified. It is associated with certain genetic disorders, including neurofibromatosis type I and the rare Li-Fraumeni syndrome, as well as environmental factors including radiation and chemicals, including vinyl chloride.
Soft tissue sarcoma is usually asymptomatic until relatively advanced. The first sign is commonly a lump or swelling, which only becomes painful when it is large enough to put pressure on surrounding structures. Cancer can only be diagnosed through a biopsy, a procedure in which a small part of the tumor is removed and examined in a laboratory. For this reason, any nodules that form in any of the soft tissues should be biopsied if they do not disappear after a short time. Soft tissue sarcoma can metastasize or spread to other organs, such as lymph nodes and lungs.
Treatment of soft tissue sarcoma is similar to that of other cancers and depends on how advanced the cancer is and whether or not it has metastasized. The basic treatment options are chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery, any of which can be used in combination. Surgical removal of the tumor is the most common treatment. A portion of healthy tissue surrounding the tumor is also removed to make sure that no tumors are left behind and to prevent recurrence. Both radiation and chemotherapy can be used to shrink tumors before surgery or to prevent cancer from recurring after surgery, or to address tumors that cannot be surgically removed due to their location.
Soft tissue sarcoma is classified according to the type of tissue from which it arises. In adults, it most often originates in the fibrous tissues of the arms, legs, or torso, while in children, it most often originates in the muscles of these areas or in the head, neck, or urinary tract. Soft tissue sarcoma arising from cartilage or bone tissue is the rarest type among age groups.
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