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Soft tissue tumours arise from soft tissues such as muscles, nerves, blood vessels, and fat and may involve any area of the body. While not all soft tissue tumours are malignant (cancerous), when the term 'sarcoma' is used, it implies that the tumour is malignant.
People of any age can be affected with sarcoma, although it tends to occur in adults more often than children. A painless lump is the most common symptom, especially when found in the early stages. At times, the sarcoma may be found after attention is drawn to the area from an unrelated injury.
Symptoms such as pain, numbness, swelling, or difficulty breathing can arise if the sarcoma compresses adjacent tissues and organs. Constitutional symptoms such as fever or weight loss can also be present.
Imaging studies help define the local and systemic (rest of the body) extent of the disease and include plain radiographs (x-rays), MRI, and CT scans. A small tissue sample (biopsy) allows for confirmation of the diagnosis.
Surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and, more recently, targeted agents, either alone or in combination, are typical treatment options.
Notably, there are many different subtypes of sarcoma that can behave and respond differently to treatment. The complexity of therapy dictates that patients with sarcomas should seek treatment in a tertiary centre with comprehensive multidisciplinary care.
In July's ‘Ask the Specialist’ forum, Dr Looi Wen Shen, Consultant from the Division of Radiation Oncology at National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS), a member of the SingHealth group, answers your questions on sarcomas.
This forum is open from 1 July to 28 July 2021.
To post your question, please log in as a member. If you are not a member, you can register for a FREE membership here.
If you have problems posting your questions, please email your questions to marcom@healthxchange.com.sg
Kindly note: Your question will only go live / appear on this page after the doctor answers it
Posted by JC
Hi Dr Looi,
Here are my questions on sarcoma:
Thank you for your advice.
Answered by Dr Looi Wen Shen, Consultant, Department of Radiation Oncology, National Cancer Centre Singapore (NCCS)
Dear JC,
Sarcomas are rare worldwide and account for approximately 1% of all adult solid malignant tumours. There isn’t a strong predisposition for either gender.
Most of the time, a clear reason for why a soft tissue tumour develops is not known. However, patients with certain medical conditions may be more likely to develop soft tissue sarcomas.
These conditions include neurofibromatosis, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Gardner's syndrome, Werner's syndrome, nevoid basal cell carcinoma syndrome, and retinoblastoma. Additionally, exposure to radioactivity and certain chemicals such as arsenic and alkylating agents are known to increase risk.
Broadly speaking, soft tissue sarcomas can be divided into those that are localised, locally advanced, and metastatic. As many different types of soft tissue sarcoma exist, I cannot provide definite survival statistics.
Most sarcomas develop in people with no known risk factors and there is little that can be done in terms of lifestyle choices. No screening tests or exams are recommended for the general population. However, if you have a strong family history of sarcomas and/or known genetic syndromes, you can consider speaking to a doctor about genetic testing.
Posted by alex_h
My understanding is that there are many different types of sarcomas, is that right? As a layman, are there major types that I need to be aware of which are the most common? Thanks.
Dear Alex_h,
There are more than 80 types soft tissue sarcoma or sarcoma-like growths; a biopsy is required to determine what subtype it belongs to. For a layperson, it is important to know when to seek medical attention. If you have an enlarging lump (especially 5cm or larger), it would be good to see a doctor. This is especially so if the lump feels deep-seated, starts to become painful, or has recurred after a previous surgery.
Posted by csang70
Dear Dr Looi,
Can sarcoma spread quickly to other parts of the body? What are the likely areas that sarcoma spreads to? Can it be cured completely? As for soft tissue sarcoma, is it possible to die from it? Thanks for your advice.
Dear csang70,
If the tumour does spread to other parts of the body, the most common are affected is the lungs.
However, other sites such as lymph nodes, soft tissues, bone, liver, brain, and even skin are possible; the sites of involvement are influenced by the type of sarcoma. Localised tumours and sometimes even locally advanced tumours are potentially curable.
Surgery is generally the main curative therapy if the disease can be removed completely; radiotherapy and chemotherapy or other newer systemic therapies may be recommended as additional therapies.
Although metastatic disease may not always be curable, there are treatment options available. As with all cancers, unfortunately, it is possible for patients to succumb to the disease.
Posted by Suzy
Dear Dr Looi Wen Shen,
What are the treatment options for sarcoma? Is surgery usually the first course of action? What can I do after to minimise the risk of recurrence? Thank you.
Dear Suzy,
Although metastatic disease may not always be curable, there are still treatment options available. There are no lifestyle changes you can make to reduce the risk of recurrence. However, if you have been treated for sarcoma, you can speak to your doctor about the symptoms you might experience if a recurrence occurs so that you can monitor for these.
