Sarcoma

Sarcomas account for more than 20% of all solid malignancies in children and less than 1% in adults. The vast majority of diagnosed tumors affect soft tissues, and only 10% affect bones.

Sarcomas are prone to rapid metastasis and recurrence. Understanding the nature of this disease allows to recognize it at an early stage and seek medical help in a timely manner. In this article, we have collected all the most up-to-date information about the types, symptoms, causes of sarcomas, methods for their diagnosis and treatment, as well as the best oncology clinics and doctors specializing in this field.

What is sarcoma and why is it dangerous?

Sarcomas are malignant neoplasms that develop in bones, soft tissues (muscles, adipose tissue, connective tissue), as well as in organs such as the lungs, stomach, and intestines. These are aggressive cancerous tumors that grow rapidly and metastasize (spread) to other parts of the body.

The danger of sarcoma lies in its tendency to infiltration (penetration into surrounding tissues), metastasis and recurrence. The tumor is often mistaken for a consequence of injuries or symptoms of other diseases, so treatment begins late.

Quick facts about sarcomas:

• Nearly half of bone tumors and about one-fifth of soft tissue tumors are diagnosed in people younger than 35 years of age.
• Every third case of the disease ends in the death of the patient.
• Between 1975 and 1997, when the prognosis for many types of cancer improved sharply, survival rates for adolescents and young people with sarcomas remained the same.
• Tumors are prone to recurrence even with complete surgical resection.

This information once again proves that early diagnosis and qualified therapy of sarcomas are the key to a successful cure for this dangerous disease.

Causes of sarcoma

The exact causes of the development of the disease are unknown. There are certain hereditary conditions that increase the chance of these tumors occurring.

Patients who had retinoblastoma (eye cancer) in childhood have a genetic defect that makes them more likely to develop sarcoma later in life. People with neurofibromatosis type 1 (a disease that causes the growth of benign and malignant tumors) are also predisposed to the disease.

Occasionally, sarcomas occur in patients who have received radiation therapy for other cancers many years after treatment. In this case, they are called radiation-induced.

Sarcoma symptoms

Signs and symptoms depend on the type of tumor. Soft tissue sarcomas affect muscles, cartilage, tendons, fatty tissue, blood vessels, and other tissues. In the early stages, the disease often does not manifest itself. If symptoms are present, their nature depends on the area in which the tumor is localized. Patients may complain about:

• abdominal pain;
• difficulty walking;
• frequent constipation;
• chest pain;
• shortness of breath;
• black color of feces;
• blood in feces.

Osteosarcoma affects bone tissue. One of the first signs is bone pain, which gets worse at night. The following symptoms may also be present:

• lameness or change in gait if the sarcoma is in the leg;
• restriction of mobility;
• a bump on the bone that can be felt through the skin;
• unexplained weight loss;
• pain radiating to the area surrounding the affected bone;
• redness and increased temperature of tissues in the area of tumor localization;
• chronic fatigue.

Although these symptoms are not specific and do not necessarily indicate the development of sarcoma, it is better to consult a doctor if they appear. Write or call us and we will select for you the best doctor and clinic for comprehensive diagnostics for free.

What does sarcoma look like at an early stage and how quickly does it develop?

At an early stage, a sarcoma may look like a small lump and induration. Often, the growth is painful and causes swelling around the affected area. In some cases, the skin over the tumor becomes red or, on the contrary, pale, its texture changes. If the neoplasm compresses nearby nerves, the area of ​​its localization may become numb.

The rate of development of the disease depends on the type of tumor. The most aggressive forms grow rapidly, reaching 10 cm in diameter in just one month. Other types may develop slowly, going unnoticed for a long time.

Types of sarcomas

Doctors distinguish between two main types of sarcomas: soft tissue tumors and neoplasms that affect bone tissue.

Soft tissue sarcoma

There are more than 50 types of neoplasms of this type. The most common in adults among them are:

• Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (NPS). An aggressive type of tumor that often metastasizes or recurs after treatment. Most often occurs in people aged 50-70 years.
• Leiomyosarcoma. A tumor that occurs in smooth muscle, often in the limbs, abdomen, or uterus.
• Liposarcoma. It develops from fat cells, most often occurring on the trunk, arms, legs or abdomen.
• Angiosarcoma. A tumor that affects the blood and lymphatic vessels.
• Neurosarcoma. A malignant neoplasm that affects the sheaths of peripheral nerves.
• Fibrosarcoma. It affects the fibrous tissues of the body. It is most often localized on the trunk and limbs.
• Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). Occurs in the digestive tract, more often in people aged 50–80 years. This type of tumor is treated differently than other soft tissue sarcomas.
• Kaposi’s sarcoma. A malignant neoplasm caused by the herpes virus. Occurs in people with weakened immune systems, such as those with AIDS. Most often affects the skin, oral cavity and internal organs.

In children, the most commonly diagnosed types of soft tissue sarcoma are:

• Rhabdomyosarcoma. It is an aggressive tumor that affects skeletal muscle. Rhabdomyosarcomas are most common in children under the age of 10, although they can also occur in adolescents and adults.
• Synovial sarcoma. A neoplasm that develops in the tissues surrounding the joints and tendons. It most commonly affects children and young adults, but can also occur in the elderly.

Bone sarcoma

Primary sarcoma develops in bone tissue. Histologically, it differs from secondary tumors that have arisen due to bone metastasis from another part of the body. Neoplasms of this type are more common in children and adolescents. The most common of these are:

• Osteosarcoma. This is a common bone cancer that usually affects the ends of long bones.
• Ewing’s sarcoma. It is localized in the pelvis, chest, middle section of the long bones of the legs.

Accurate determination of the type of disease is of great importance in the choice of therapeutic tactics and prognosis.

How many stages does sarcoma have?

Sarcomas, like many other types of cancer, have 4 stages of development:

• I stage. Low degree of malignancy. The size of the tumor does not exceed 5 cm in diameter. The neoplasm has not spread to the lymph nodes and other parts of the body.
• II stage. Average degree of malignancy. The tumor is more than 5 cm in diameter, without spreading to the lymph nodes and other parts of the body.
• III stage. High degree of malignancy. The tumor is more than 5 cm in diameter without regional and local metastases. Or a neoplasm of any grade or size that has spread to the lymph nodes.
• IV stage. A tumor of any degree of malignancy with metastases to distant organs and tissues.

Staging helps doctors determine the severity of the disease and determine the most effective treatment.

Diagnosis of sarcoma

Diagnostic testing usually includes:

• visual evaluation and palpation of a tumor;
• complete physical examination;
• visualization of the neoplasm using X-ray, ultrasound, CT, PET or MRI;
• biopsy (taking a small sample of tumor tissue for histological analysis.

When diagnosing osteosarcoma, oncologists usually also prescribe osteoscintigraphy – a bone scan. This technique reveals even the most insignificant pathological foci in the bone tissue.

What is the difference between sarcoma and cancer?

Cancer refers to tumors that develop from epithelial tissues that cover the outer surfaces of the body and internal organs. These include carcinomas that most often affect the lungs, breast, prostate, small and large intestine, and pancreas.

Sarcomas, in turn, are tumors that develop in soft tissues and bones. These include osteosarcoma (bone cancer), leiomyosarcoma (malignant smooth muscle tumor), liposarcoma (a tumor that develops in adipose tissue), etc.

Both carcinomas and sarcomas are malignant tumors. But only carcinomas are called cancer. This is the main difference between these neoplasms.

Sarcoma treatment

The main treatment for this type of tumor is surgery. Its goal is to remove the neoplasm as completely as possible and prevent its further growth and spread. As already mentioned, sarcomas are prone to metastasis and recurrence. Therefore, in combination with the operation, a doctor may prescribe to a patient:

• chemotherapy;
• radiation therapy (remote or brachytherapy);
• targeted therapy;
• immunotherapy.

Treatment can be long and difficult. The patient should be managed by an interdisciplinary team of doctors, including an oncologist, radiologist, radiotherapist, chemotherapist, and other specialists. In addition, the medical center where the treatment will take place should have access to modern methods of antitumor therapy. An integrated approach helps to achieve the most effective therapeutic result. Therefore, it is important to pay sufficient attention to the choice of the clinic where the treatment will be carried out.

The MedTour company cooperates with the best oncology centers specializing in the diagnosis and treatment of sarcomas. Our coordinating doctor will select a clinic based on your individual needs and possibilities. We will help organize treatment and resolve all related issues. MedTour services are free. The patient pays for the treatment at the cash desk of the medical center.

Sarcoma prognosis

The prognosis varies depending on a number of factors. The two most important of these are the type and stage of the tumor. For example, neoplasms that develop in the soft tissues of the extremities and are diagnosed before they have spread to surrounding tissues tend to have a very favorable prognosis (five-year survival rate is 90%).

Other factors that influence the possible outcome of the disease include:

• Age of the patient at the time of diagnosis. Children and young patients have a fairly good prognosis, especially in low-grade rhabdomyosarcoma and infantile fibrosarcoma.
• Types of treatment the patient receives. Patients with access to the full range of treatment options can usually expect a better outcome. Since the possibility of choice is associated with a higher probability that the doctor will select an effective therapeutic strategy.
• Qualification and experience of doctors. Most treatments, such as surgery and radiation therapy, require a lot of skill and experience from the experts to achieve a good result.

Write or call us to find the most suitable clinic for the treatment of sarcoma. We cooperate with leading oncology centers that have modern equipment, experienced staff and access to innovative methods of cancer treatment.

How long do people live with a diagnosis of sarcoma?

The five-year survival rate directly depends on the early diagnosis of the tumor:

• localized sarcoma – 81.5%;
• a tumor with regional metastases to the lymph nodes – 57.8%;
• tumor with distant metastases – 17.1%.

The overall survival rate is 52%.

The best clinics for the treatment of sarcoma

The MedTour platform cooperates with leading cancer centers around the world. Our main goal is to make cancer treatment more accessible to patients. Medical coordinators of MedTour will select a clinic for the treatment of sarcoma, taking into account your personal needs and wishes. We will help to solve all organizational issues and provide support at all stages of the therapeutic process.

The best doctors for the treatment of sarcoma

The MedTour platform contains information about leading oncologists from around the world. We will select an experienced and qualified doctor who specializes in the treatment of sarcomas and has made significant progress in this area. To get advice from our coordinator, fill out the feedback form or call the phone number listed on the site.

Published: 31.07.2023

Updated: 09.08.2023

Medical author:

Ilona Baidiuk

Medical author, Medical editor:

Olena Kursabaieva