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Types of Cancer > Bone Cancers > Rhabdomyosarcoma and Other Soft-Tissue Sarcomas > Overview

Sarcomas of Soft Tissue: The Basics

Carolyn Vachani, RN, MSN, AOCN
Affiliation: The Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania
Last Modified: October 15, 2009

What is sarcoma?

Sarcoma is a cancer of the soft tissue or bone. (This article will discuss soft tissue sarcomas, and sarcomas of the bone will be discussed separately). Soft tissues include muscles, tendons, fibrous tissues, fat, blood vessels, nerves, and synovial tissues (found in joints). Sarcomas are more specifically named by the tissues they affect. For example, sarcoma that arises from the bone is called osteosarcoma (although there are other types that form in the bone), and a sarcoma of the fat cells is called liposarcoma. (See list below for types of soft tissue sarcomas). Sarcomas encompass a group of over 40 different types of tumors. They are considered quite rare, accounting for less than 1% of all adult cancer diagnoses, with approximately 10,000 new cases annually in the soft tissues and 2,400 new cases annually in the bone. Soft tissue sarcomas can develop from any site in the body, but the majority form in the lower extremities (about 45%), most commonly in the thigh. The remaining cases are evenly distributed throughout the rest of the body.

Am I at risk for sarcoma?

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) can develop in people of all ages, with approximately 20% of cases in people under age 40, 30% in people from 40-60 years of age, and 50% in people older than 60. In most cases of sarcoma, no specific cause is known. Sarcomas can develop secondary to radiation therapy for another cancer, but these are most likely osteosarcomas. There is thought to be an increased risk with exposure to chemicals used in certain industries, but research of these chemicals has produced mixed results, and a clear-cut association has not been found. The agents in question include: phenoxyacetic acids (forestry workers), TCDD (tetrachlorodibenzo-p-dioxin), Agent Orange (Vietnam veterans), chlorophenols (sawmill workers), thorotrast (formerly used as radiology contrast), vinyl chloride, and arsenic (vineyard workers). There is also thought to be a link between chronic lymphedema (induced by surgery, radiation, or congenital abnormalities) and a type of sarcoma called lymphangiosarcoma. Lastly, there are a few genetic syndromes that are linked to STS; these include Li-Fraumeni syndrome, neurofibromatosis, and familial retinoblastoma.

Given the lack of a clear-cut cause, one cannot really prevent sarcoma from developing, aside from maybe avoiding the chemicals listed above.

What screening tests are available?

Unfortunately, there is no screening test for STS. Screening tests are developed for the early detection of common or very deadly diseases. Given how rare STS are, they would be difficult to screen for in the general population. In addition, the number of different types of STS would make it very difficult to develop one single screening test that could detect all types.