About Sarcoma
• About Sarcoma
• What is Sarcoma?
• What are the possible causes of sarcomas?
• How are sarcomas diagnosed?
• Soft Tissue Sarcoma
• What are soft tissue sarcomas?
• Where do soft tissue sarcomas develop?
• How often do soft tissue sarcomas occur?
• What are the symptoms of soft tissue sarcomas?
• Osteosarcoma (Bone Cancer)
• Where do bone sarcomas develop?
• How often do bone sarcomas occur?
• What are the symptoms of bone sarcomas?
Patient Resources
About Sarcoma
How are sarcomas diagnosed?
The only reliable way to determine whether a tumor is benign or malignant is through a surgical biopsy. Therefore, all soft tissue and bone lumps that persist or grow should be biopsied. During this procedure, a doctor makes an incision or uses a special needle to remove a sample of tumor tissue. A pathologist examines the tissue under a microscope. If cancer is present, the pathologist can usually determine the type of cancer and its grade. The grade of the tumor is determined by how abnormal the cancer cells appear when examined under a microscope. The grade predicts the probable growth rate of the tumor and its tendency to spread. Low-grade sarcomas, although cancerous, are unlikely to metastasize. High-grade sarcomas are more likely to spread to other parts of the body.
Major Types of Soft Tissue Sarcomas in Adults |
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Tissue of Origin |
Type of Cancer |
Usual Location in the Body |
| Fibrous tissue | Fibrosarcoma | Arms, legs, trunk |
| Malignant fibrous | Legs | |
| Hystiocytoma | ||
| Dermatofibrosarcoma | Trunk | |
| Fat | Liposarcoma | Arms, legs, trunk |
| Muscle | ||
| Striated muscle | Rhabdomyosarcoma | Arms, legs |
| Smooth muscle | ||
| Blood vessels | Hemangiosarcoma | Arms, legs, trunk |
| Hemangiosarcoma | Arms, legs, trunk | |
| Lymph vessels | Lymphangiosarcoma | Arms |
| Synovial tissue (linings of joint cavities, tendon sheaths) | Synovial sarcoma | Legs |
| Peripheral nerves | Neurofibrosarcoma | Arms, legs, trunk |
| Cartilage and bone-forming tissue | Extraskeletal chondrosarcoma | Legs |
| Extraskeletal osteosarcoma | Legs, trunk (not involving the bone) | |
Programs & Resources
Patient Resources
Information on sarcoma subtypes, treatments, clinical trials, and other important resources for sarcoma patients and families.
Sarcoma Patient Registry
Information on the Sarcoma Patient Registry. If you are diagnosed with sarcoma, please consider joining the Registry.
Research Grants
Information on applying for a sarcoma research grant, current research funded by the SFA, and past research grants.