Soft tissue sarcoma: types and treatments

Soft tissue sarcomas are cancers that develop in areas that surround, connect, or support the body's structure or organs. Cancer cells start growing in a child's body's soft tissues, leading to soft tissue sarcoma. These soft tissues connect, support, and surround the parts and organs of the body, and they include tendons, ligaments, fat, blood vessels, nerves, as well as synovial tissues (the tissues surrounding joints). The cancerous growth of cells occurs within the soft tissues.

Various Types of Childhood Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Sarcomas of soft tissue can be classified into many types based on their resemblance to certain cells. Examples are:

Fibrous (connective) Tissue Tumors

• Desmoid tumor
• Fibrosarcoma

Fibrohistiocytic Tumors

• Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma

Fat Tissue Tumors

• Liposarcoma

Smooth Muscle Tumors

• Leiomyosarcoma

Blood and Lymph Vessel Tumors

• Angiosarcoma
• Hemangiopericytoma
• Hemangioendothelioma

Sarcoma of Synovial (joint) Tissues

• Synovial sarcoma

Peripheral Nervous System Tumors

• Malignant Schwannoma

Bone and Cartilage Tumors

• Extraosseous Osteosarcoma
• Extraosseous myxoid chondrosarcoma
• Extraosseous mesenchymal chondrosarcoma

Factors that Raise the Risk:

There are several risk factors that make people more likely to develop soft tissue sarcoma:

• There are specific genetic conditions. In some cases, genetic syndromes like Li-Fraumeni may put someone at a higher risk for developing this disease.
• Treatment with radiation. Radiation therapy has a higher risk for children who have already received it.
• There are viruses. Similarly, children who have Epstein-Barr virus or AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome) are at a higher risk.

Take a Look at Some of the Symptoms of Bone Cancer

Early diagnosis of cancer helps treat it better. So, consult your primary care physician as soon as you notice any of the following symptoms in your child:

• Pain that increases in intensity with time that involves any bone
• Bones, muscles, or other nearby tissues with visible bumps
• An infection like respiratory infection occurs frequently
• Congestion, vomiting, nausea, and urination problems repeatedly
• Angioedema in the surrounding area or on the bones
• A sensation of numbness in the legs, arms, or any other areas
• A fracture that occurs when bones become weak
• Loss of energy and fatigue