What is sarcoma?

Sarcoma refers to a broad group of cancers or malignant tumors that start in your body’s connective tissues. Sarcomas can occur in people of all ages – newborns, infants, children, young adults, and mature adults. Although there are many different types of sarcomas, it is considered a rare cancer.

ABOUT SARCOMA
SOFT TISSUE SARCOMA
BONE SARCOMA

 

SARCOMA FAST FACTS

  • Sarcoma is a rare cancer and affects all age groups
  • Represents approximately 1% of all adult cancers and 15% of all childhood cancers in the U.S.
  • Includes two broad categories: soft tissue sarcoma and bone sarcoma
  • Found in connective tissues, bone, muscle, fat, skin, arteries, veins, lymphatic vessels, and nerves located anywhere in the body
  • Soft tissue sarcomas are twice as common as bone sarcomas
  • Sarcomas are comprised of many subtypes
  • Timely subtype diagnosis is critical to determining treatment
Sources

Arifi S, Belbaraka R, Rahhali R, Ismaili N. Treatment of Adult Soft Tissue Sarcomas: An Overview. Rare Cancers Ther. 2015;3(1):69-87. doi: 10.1007/s40487-015-0011-x. Epub 2015 Sep 7. PMID: 27182479; PMCID: PMC4837937.

Seong Gyuhee , D’Angelo Sandra P. New therapeutics for soft tissue sarcomas: Overview of current immunotherapy and future directions of soft tissue sarcomas. Frontiers in Oncology.Volume 13 – 2023. https://www.frontiersin.org/journals/oncology/articles/10.3389/fonc.2023.1150765. DOI=10.3389/fonc.2023.1150765

Improta L, Tzanis D, Bouhadiba T, Abdelhafidh K, Bonvalot S. Overview of primary adult retroperitoneal tumours. Eur J Surg Oncol. 2020 Sep;46(9):1573-1579. doi: 10.1016/j.ejso.2020.04.054. Epub 2020 May 21. PMID: 32600897.

Gronchi A, Ferrari S, Quagliuolo V, Broto JM, Pousa AL, Grignani G, Basso U, Blay JY, Tendero O, Beveridge RD, Ferraresi V, Lugowska I, Merlo DF, Fontana V, Marchesi E, Donati DM, Palassini E, Palmerini E, De Sanctis R, Morosi C, Stacchiotti S, Bagué S, Coindre JM, Dei Tos AP, Picci P, Bruzzi P, Casali PG. Histotype-tailored neoadjuvant chemotherapy versus standard chemotherapy in patients with high-risk soft-tissue sarcomas (ISG-STS 1001): an international, open-label, randomised, controlled, phase 3, multicentre trial. Lancet Oncol. 2017 Jun;18(6):812-822. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(17)30334-0. Epub 2017 May 9. Erratum in: Lancet Oncol. 2017 Jun;18(6):e301. doi: 10.1016/S1470-2045(17)30371-6. PMID: 28499583.

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Don’t delay your sarcoma diagnosis!

Early imaging and timely referral to a sarcoma specialist will improve your survival.

  • Soft tissue sarcomas may present as a painful or painless soft tissue mass
  • Bone sarcomas are usually painful and difficult to see on initial X-rays
  • Patients should be evaluated within 4-6 weeks with an MRI, CT scan, or ultrasound if:
    • A soft tissue mass is present that measures 5 cm (2 inches) or larger or has increased in size over 1-2 months
    • A bone tumor or painful bony abnormality is visible with an X-ray or patient presents with persistent, worsening, or unexplained pain lasting more than 6 weeks
  • If imaging indicates a possible sarcoma, the patient should be seen by a sarcoma specialist within 2 weeks for further evaluation
Sources

Ardakani AHG, Woollard A, Ware H, Gikas P. Soft tissue sarcoma: Recognizing a rare disease. Cleve Clin J Med. 2022 Feb 1;89(2):73-80. doi: 10.3949/ccjm.89a.21078. PMID: 35105695.

Soydemir GP, Bahat Z, Kandaz M, Canyilmaz E, Yöney A. Prognostic factors and clinical course of extremity soft-tissue sarcomas. J Cancer Res Ther. 2020 Jul-Sep;16(4):903-908. doi: 10.4103/jcrt.JCRT_108_18. PMID: 32930138.

Grimer RJ. Size matters for sarcomas! Ann R Coll Surg Engl. 2006 Oct;88(6):519-24. doi: 10.1308/003588406X130651. PMID: 17059708; PMCID: PMC1963770.

Crombé A, Fadli D, Spinnato P, Michot A, Cousin S, Le Loarer F, Kind M. Natural speed of growth of untreated soft-tissue sarcomas: A dimension-based imaging analysis. Eur J Radiol. 2022 Jan;146:110082. doi: 10.1016/j.ejrad.2021.110082. Epub 2021 Dec 1. PMID: 34871937.

Mankin, Henry J. M.D.; Mankin, Carole J. M.S.L.S.; Simon, Michael A. M.D., Boston, Massachusetts. The Hazards of the Biopsy, Revisited. For the Members of the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society. The Journal of Bone & Joint Surgery 78(5):p 656-63, May 1996.

Nandra R, Forsberg J, Grimer R. If your lump is bigger than a golf ball and growing, think Sarcoma. Eur J Surg Oncol. 2015 Oct;41(10):1400-5. doi: 10.1016/j.ejso.2015.05.017. Epub 2015 Jun 18. PMID: 26163048.

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