About Sarcoma

Patient Education

What is Sarcoma?

A sarcoma is a tumor that arises out of connective tissues, not glandular tissues. Sarcomas, therefore, are found in bone (osseous), cartilage, skeletal muscle, tendons, veins/arteries, nerves, skin, and fatty tissues.

Risk Factors Include high-grade tumors, tumors larger than 10 cm in size, tumors with metastatic disease, and certain sarcoma subtypes. Subtypes include histologic and molecular markers that are sometimes linked to tumor types that prove to be more aggressive and resistant to chemotherapy.

Symptoms Occur in and around the joints, often causing swelling and tenderness. Bone tumors can weaken the bones, thus causing fractures. Other symptoms include weight loss, fatigue, anemia, or pain without any clear source of injury. Symptoms usually do not show up until the disease is advanced, but a doctor should be contacted regarding the following symptoms: a new or growing lump appears, increasing abdominal pain, and/or blood in stools or in vomit.

Diagnosis Soft-tissue sarcomas are diagnosed through a surgical biopsy. The grade of the tumor is determined by how abnormal the cancer cells appear when examined under a microscope. Low-grade sarcomas, although cancerous, are unlikely to metastasize. High-grade sarcomas are more likely to spread to other parts of the body. For bone cancers, the doctor may suggest a blood test to determine the level of an enzyme called alkaline phosphatase; a high level can be found when there is a disease or tumor. High levels of this enzyme can also be found in children and adolescents with growing bones, so the test is not a reliable determination of bone cancer. Bone cancers are also diagnosed by X-rays and imaging tests, such as a bone scan, an MRI, or an angiogram. Regardless of how bone cancer is initially diagnosed, a biopsy is still needed to confirm whether or not cancer is present.