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Childhood Soft Tissue Sarcoma - Description

What is childhood soft tissue sarcoma?

Childhood soft tissue sarcoma is a disease in which cancer (malignant) cells begin growing in soft tissue in the body. The soft tissues include muscles, tendons (bands of fiber that connect muscles to bones), fibrous (connective) tissues, fat, blood vessels, nerves, and synovial tissues (tissues around joints). Soft tissues connect, support, and surround other body parts and organs.

Soft tissue sarcomas are rare in children and adolescents. If a patient has symptoms of a soft tissue sarcoma, the doctor may order x-rays and other tests. The doctor may also cut out a small piece of tissue and have it looked at under the microscope to see if there are any cancer cells. This is called a biopsy. If cancer cells are found, the doctor may remove as much tumor as safely possible, along with some healthy tissue around it, during the same surgery. Some soft tissue sarcomas may be completely removed by surgery.

There are many different kinds of soft tissue sarcoma, depending on the soft tissue where the cancer begins. Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common type of childhood soft tissue sarcoma. It begins in muscles around the bone and can be found anywhere in the body. (Refer to the PDQ summaries on Childhood Rhabdomyosarcoma Treatment and Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma Treatment for more information.) The soft tissue sarcomas that affect young patients include tumors of the smooth muscle, connective tissue, blood and lymphatic vessels, and the peripheral nervous system.

Soft tissue sarcomas may develop in any part of the body, but in young patients, they are most commonly found in the trunk, arms, and legs. The first symptom may be a solid mass or lump. If the mass interferes with a function of the body, it may cause other symptoms. Soft tissue sarcoma rarely causes fever, weight loss, or night sweats.

Soft tissue sarcoma is more likely to develop in people who have specific genetic conditions, such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome, who have previously received radiation therapy, or who have the Epstein-Barr virus with acquired immune deficiency syndrome (AIDS).

Soft tissue sarcomas are classified according to the type of soft tissue they resemble. The types of soft tissue sarcoma include:

TUMORS OF FIBROUS (CONNECTIVE) TISSUE:
- desmoid tumor
- fibrosarcoma
FIBROHISTIOCYTIC TUMORS:
- malignant fibrous histiocytoma
FAT TISSUE TUMORS:
- liposarcoma
SMOOTH MUSCLE TUMORS:
- leiomyosarcoma
BLOOD AND LYMPH VESSEL TUMORS:
- angiosarcoma
- hemangiopericytoma
- hemangioendothelioma
PERIPHERAL NERVOUS SYSTEM TUMORS:
- malignant schwannoma (malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor)
BONE AND CARTILAGE TUMORS:
- extraosseous osteosarcoma
- extraosseous myxoid chondrosarcoma
- extraosseous mesenchymal chondrosarcoma
TUMORS WITH MORE THAN ONE TYPE OF TISSUE:
- malignant mesenchymoma
- malignant Triton tumor
- malignant ectomesenchymoma
TUMORS OF UNKNOWN ORIGIN:
- alveolar soft part sarcoma
- epithelioid sarcoma
- clear cell sarcoma (malignant melanoma of soft parts [MMSP])
- synovial sarcoma
- desmoplastic small round cell tumor

The chance of recovery (prognosis) and choice of treatment depend on the type, location, and stage of the tumor and the age, size, stage of development, and general health of the patient.

WebMD Public Information from the National Cancer Institute

Last Updated: October 18, 2006

This information is not intended to replace the advice of a doctor. Healthwise disclaims any liability for the decisions you make based on this information.