Sarcoma: Introduction

What is Sarcoma?

Both benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous) tumors can arise in the connective tissues of the body. Sarcoma is a broad term that describes cancerous tumors that can develop from bone, tissue around joints, fat, muscle, nerve, blood vessels, or deep skin tissues. Sarcomas can develop in any part of the body. The type of tissue the tumor comes from gives a sarcoma its name. For example, a sarcoma that comes from the fat is called a liposarcoma.

What Are the Types of Sarcoma?

There are two main types of sarcoma, those that arise from bone and those from soft tissues.

Bone:
The most common type of sarcoma from the bone is osteosarcoma. Other types include Ewing's sarcoma and chondrosarcoma (arising from cartilage). Bone sarcomas are rare tumors that occur most commonly in children and young adults but can also occur at any age.

Soft tissue:
There are many types of soft tissue sarcoma that come from fat, muscle, nerves, blood vessels and deep skin tissues. Soft tissue sarcomas most often occur in the arms or legs, but can occur in other areas such as the abdomen and pelvis.

How Does Sarcoma Present?
Sarcomas of the extremities may present as a lump that is not always painful. Sarcomas located in the abdomen can cause pain or problems caused by the blockage of the intestines, but symptoms are often not specific to sarcoma.