Soft tissue sarcoma

ARTICLE SECTIONS

Introduction Signs and symptoms Causes When to seek medical advice

Screening and diagnosis Complications Treatment Coping skills

Introduction

"Sarcoma" comes from a Greek word meaning "fleshy growth." Soft tissue sarcomas are cancerous (malignant) tumors that originate in the soft tissues of your body. Soft tissues connect, support and surround other body structures. The soft tissues include muscle, fat, blood vessels, nerves, tendons and the lining of your joints (synovial tissues). A large variety of soft tissue sarcomas can occur in these areas.

Soft tissue sarcomas aren't common. Fewer than 10,000 cases are diagnosed annually in the United States. They occur slightly more often in men than in women, and they sometimes occur in children and adolescents.

Although there are various types of soft tissue sarcoma, they generally share similar characteristics, produce similar symptoms and are treated in similar ways.

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Signs and symptoms