Soft tissue sarcoma
can occur anywhere in your body, but the most common types occur in the arms and legs, and in the abdomen. Surgical removal is the most common treatment, although radiation and chemotherapy also may be recommended — depending on the size, type, location and aggressiveness of the tumor.
Types
Angiosarcoma
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans
Epithelioid sarcoma
Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)
Kaposi's sarcoma
Leiomyosarcoma
Liposarcoma
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors
Myxofibrosarcoma
Rhabdomyosarcoma
Solitary fibrous tumor
Synovial sarcoma
Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma
Symptoms
A soft tissue sarcoma may not cause any signs and symptoms in its early stages. As the tumor grows, it may cause:
A noticeable lump or swelling
Pain, if a tumor presses on nerves or muscles
When to see a doctor
Make an appointment with your doctor if you have:
A lump that is increasing in size or becomes painful
A lump of any size that's located deep within a muscle
Recurrence of a lump that's been removed
Causes
In most cases, it's not clear what causes soft tissue sarcoma.
In general, cancer occurs when cells develop errors (mutations) in their DNA. The errors make cells grow and divide out of control. The accumulating abnormal cells form a tumor that can grow to invade nearby structures and the abnormal cells can spread to other parts of the body.
The type of cell that develops the genetic mutation determines what type of soft tissue sarcoma you have. For example, angiosarcoma begins in the lining of blood vessels, while liposarcoma arises from fat cells. Some types of soft tissue sarcoma include:
Angiosarcoma
Dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans
Epithelioid sarcoma
Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST)
Kaposi's sarcoma
Leiomyosarcoma
Liposarcoma
Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor
Myxofibrosarcoma
Rhabdomyosarcoma
Solitary fibrous tumor
Synovial sarcoma
Undifferentiated (pleomorphic sarcoma)
Risk factors
Factors that may increase your risk of sarcoma include:
Inherited syndromes. A risk of soft tissue sarcoma can be inherited from your parents. Genetic syndromes that increase your risk include hereditary retinoblastoma, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis, neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis and Werner syndrome.
Chemical exposure. Being exposed to certain chemicals, such as herbicides, arsenic and dioxin, may increase the risk of soft tissue sarcomas.
Radiation exposure. Previous radiation treatment for other cancers can increase the risk of soft tissue sarcomas.
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