Sarcomas

Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Signs and Symptoms
Diagnosis
Treatment

Signs and Symptoms

Soft tissues are the tissues that connect, support or surround organs of the body or other structures such as muscles, tendons, fat, blood vessels, nerves and tissue around the joints. Malignant or cancerous tumors that develop in a child's soft tissue are called sarcomas. They are relatively uncommon, accounting for less than 1 percent of all new cancer cases each year.

Soft tissue sarcomas can develop almost anywhere in a child's body. About 50 percent are found in the arms, legs, hands or feet; 40 percent occur in the chest, back, hips, shoulder and abdomen; and 10 percent occur in the head and neck. There are many different kinds of soft tissue sarcomas that develop in children and young adults. They can invade surrounding tissue and spread to other organs of the body, forming secondary tumors. One of the most common forms is rhabdomyosarcoma, which begins growing in muscle tissue.

In their early stages, soft tissue sarcomas usually don't have any symptoms. Because soft tissue is relatively elastic, tumors can grow rather large, pushing aside normal tissue, before they are felt or cause problems. The first symptom is usually a painless lump or swelling. As the tumor grows, it may cause pain or soreness, as it presses against nearby nerves and muscles.

Reviewed by health care specialists at UCSF Children's Hospital.
Last updated May 8, 2007