Christopher D. Collier, MD
Orthopaedic Surgeon | IU Health Simon Cancer Center | Riley Children's Hospital
Bone | Soft Tissue Tumors
Phone: (317) 944-9400
Fax: (317) 944-5645
Soft Tissue Sarcoma
What is a soft tissue sarcoma?
Soft tissue sarcomas are a diverse type of malignant (cancerous) soft tissue tumor. Soft tissue tumors develop when cells within the soft tissue divide uncontrollably, forming a lump or mass of abnormal tissue. They can consist of any component of the soft tissues, including: fat, connective tissue, muscle, blood vessels, nerve, or bone.
Soft tissue sarcomas can be life-threatening and spread to other parts of the body, a process known as metastasis. Treatment requires a multidisciplinary team of specialists, including: an orthopaedic-surgeon oncologist, medical oncologist, radiologist, pathologist, and radiation oncologist.
Some common types of soft tissue sarcomas - and related conditions - include:
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Liposarcoma
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Myxofibrosarcoma
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Leiomyosarcoma
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Rhabdomyosarcoma
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Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors
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Synovial sarcoma
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Epithelioid sarcoma
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Clear cell sarcoma
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Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma
How common are soft tissue sarcomas?
Soft tissue sarcomas are rare and account for approximately 1% of all cancer diagnoses in the United States. They are most common in adults, but can occur at any age.
What causes soft tissue sarcomas?
All cancers occur because genetic mutations in an individual cell cause that cell to multiply and grow uncontrollably. There are some inherited conditions and syndromes that predispose patients to cancer, but most patients develop cancer sporadically. Family members and children of sarcoma patients are generally not at higher risk of developing cancer in the future.
There is still much we do not know about sarcoma. Dr. Collier's research lab, the Indiana Musculoskeletal Oncology Lab, is working to better understand why these rare cancers occur in an effort to develop better therapies in the future.
What are symptoms of a soft tissue sarcoma?
Most soft tissue sarcomas are not symptomatic and discovered as a slowly growing painless mass.
How do you diagnose a soft tissue sarcoma?
Infections and other non-tumor conditions can closely resemble a soft tissue sarcoma. To be sure you have a soft tissue sarcoma and to determine which type, Dr. Collier will conduct a thorough evaluation and may order a number of tests, including:
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Medical history and physical exam
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MRI scan with and without contrast
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Other imaging studies (XR, CT scan, Bone scan)
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Biopsy
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A biopsy may be necessary to confirm the diagnosis of a soft tissue sarcoma and guide treatment. There are two basic methods of performing a biopsy:
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Needle biopsy - After given local anesthetic or sedation, a needle is inserted into the tumor to remove some tissue. The tissue is then evaluated under a microscope to confirm the diagnosis. A needle biopsy is most often done by a radiologist.
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Open biopsy - An open biopsy is performed in an operating room by a surgeon.
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Blood and/or urine tests
How do you treat a soft tissue sarcoma?
The first step in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas, after the diagnosis has been confirmed, is to determine whether the tumor has spread (or metastasized) to other parts of the body. This step is known as staging and will help guide treatment and prognosis.
Every sarcoma patient will then be discussed at a multidisciplinary tumor board of experts from IU Health and Riley Children's Hospital to recommend a treatment plan. Treatment generally involves a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and/or radiation therapy.
The type of surgery performed depends on the type and location of each sarcoma. It may involve limb-sparing surgery or amputation.
Dr. Collier will work with you and your family to develop a personalized treatment plan for your specific tumor and location.