soft tissue sarcoma
Meaning of soft tissue sarcoma: Soft tissue sarcoma is a rare cancer arising in muscle, fat, or connective tissue rather than in bone or organs.
Definition of soft tissue sarcoma
Soft tissue sarcoma is a cancer that develops in the body's connective and supporting tissues, including muscle, fat, fibrous tissue, blood vessels, and the tissue surrounding joints and nerves. It can arise almost anywhere in the body, though it occurs most often in the arms, legs, or abdomen, and it is distinguished from a bone sarcoma, which develops within bone itself rather than surrounding soft tissue.
Because soft tissue sarcoma includes tumors arising from many different tissue types, it is further classified into numerous specific subtypes based on the cell of origin, and these subtypes can differ considerably in how aggressively they grow and spread. Many soft tissue sarcomas are first noticed as a painless lump that gradually enlarges.
Diagnosis generally requires a biopsy to identify the specific subtype and grade, information that guides how the tumor is expected to behave and what combination of surgery, radiation, or other treatment is used.
Used in a sentence
Biopsy of the enlarging thigh mass confirmed a soft tissue sarcoma.
Good to know
Soft tissue sarcoma is often first noticed as a painless enlarging lump, which can delay evaluation compared with a painful mass that prompts more immediate attention.
Word origin
Where “soft tissue sarcoma” comes from
Formed from Greek sarx, meaning flesh, combined with the suffix -oma, meaning tumor or mass.