Soft tissue Sarcomas

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What is Soft tissue Sarcomas?

Sarcoma is a term used to describe malignant tumours arising from mesenchymal or supportive tissue.

Mesenchymal tissue includes connective tissues (e.g. bone, cartilage), blood vessels, lymph vessels, synovium (the lining of joint spaces), meninges (brain coverings) and muscle. Malignant tumours are cancers which have the ability to metastasise, which means the tumour can seed and spread to a different part of the body away from its site of origin.

The information here will broadly cover the soft tissue sarcomas as a group. Further information is available on individual sarcoma types. (i.e. Rhabdomyosarcoma and Ewings sarcoma).

Who gets Soft tissue Sarcomas?

Soft tissue tumours represent 0.7% of all malignant lesions in adults and 6.5% of lesions in children (the 4th most common malignancy in children). Males are affected more frequently than females. The incidence increases with age, with specific sarcomas being more prevalent in certain age groups (i.e. Rhadbomyosarcoma in children, synovial sarcoma in young adults).

Predisposing Factors

The cause of sarcomas in most cases is unknown.

Predisposing factors may include:

Scar tissue arising from burns, fractures, foreign bodies or operations.

Chemical carcinogens (polycyclic hydrocarbons and asbestos)

Irradiation, with sarcomas arising in the area of irradiation.

Human Herpes Virus 8 (HHV 8) is associated with Kaposis sarcoma.

Immunosuppression, congenital or therapeutic.

Familial predisposition.

Benign soft tissue lesions rarely predispose to malignant lesions. With the exception of neurofibromas.

Progression

Sarcomas grow as a mass that exerts pressure on its surrounding structures. 5% of all sarcomas metastasize to the lymph nodes, however this varies on the type of sarcoma. The lungs are a common site for sarcomas to travel after lymph node metastases.

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