What is a Sarcoma Tumor?

Malignant tumors derived from mesenchymal tissue (including connective tissue and muscle) are called "sarcomas", and they occur in the skin, subcutaneous, periosteum, and both ends of long bones. Osteosarcoma is more common in young people, and occurs on both ends of the long bones of the extremities, especially the lower end of the femur, the upper end of the tibia, and the upper end of the humerus. Osteosarcoma develops rapidly and has a short course. It begins to grow in the cortex and can gradually develop into the bone marrow cavity. Sometimes it breaks out of the periosteum and invades the surrounding soft tissues. It is easy to cause pathological fractures. Common leiomyomas, lymphosarcoma, synovial membrane Sarcoma, etc., hematogenous metastases can occur early. Sarcoma is a malignant tumor.

Basic Information

English name

sarcoma

Visiting department

Oncology surgery, orthopedics, dermatology

Multiple groups

Sarcomas are more common in adults, and osteosarcomas are more common in young people.

Common locations

Skin, subcutaneous, periosteum, long bone ends

Common causes

unknown

Common symptoms

Local pain and swelling, or with local skin redness and heat

Causes of sarcoma

The cause is unknown and the pathogenesis is unclear.

Clinical manifestations of sarcoma

Local symptoms

Local pain and swelling or local skin redness and heat, joint effusion, pain and limitation of limb or joint movement, etc.

2. Systemic symptoms

Low fever, fatigue, general discomfort, and related site dysfunction may occur.

Sarcoma examination

X-ray examination, CT scan, MRI examination, bone scan examination can make a preliminary diagnosis of various sarcomas, if necessary, a puncture and a biopsy should be taken to confirm the diagnosis.

Experimental examination of some patients may appear anemia and neutropenia, increased erythrocyte sedimentation, serum alkaline phosphate and lactate dehydrogenase in patients with osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma, and chondrosarcoma may have abnormal glucose tolerance test.

Sarcoma diagnosis

X-ray examination, CT scan, MRI examination, bone scan examination can be used to make a preliminary diagnosis of various sarcomas, if necessary, puncture and biopsy should be taken to confirm the diagnosis.

Sarcoma treatment

Surgery

Amputation or radical surgery is the most commonly used method, but the effect is still not satisfactory. About 50% of patients die and partial resection is not ideal. At present, domestic and foreign patients tend to retain most of the limbs and then perform chemoradiotherapy.

2. chemotherapy

Preoperative and postoperative chemotherapy are feasible, but the effectiveness is not high, and the side effects are large.

3. Topical radiotherapy

Some patients with sarcoma can also choose radiotherapy, but the efficiency is low, but the effect of lung metastasis is worse.