Sarcoma
Sarcomas constitute a heterogeneous group of rare solid tumors of soft tissues and bones, usually divided into two broad categories:
- Sarcomas of soft tissues (soft tissue sarcoma, including muscle, fat, nerve, blood vessels, and other connective tissues);
- Sarcomas of bone (osteosarcoma).
Soft tissue sarcomas are the most frequent sarcomas. The most common subtypes of soft tissue sarcoma are malignant fibrous histiocytoma, liposarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, unclassified sarcoma, synovial sarcoma, and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumors. There are more than 50 different subtypes of soft tissue sarcoma. Soft tissue sarcoma most commonly spread to the lungs; tumors arising in the abdominal cavity more commonly spread to the liver and peritoneum.
Early stage soft tissue sarcomas are treated by surgery first, followed by radiation and/or chemotherapy. There is no clear and proven evidence of benefit with chemotherapy after surgery, however, in some patients with high risk of relapse, chemotherapy may be considered. For some patients whose tumor may be too large for surgery first may be considered for radiation and/or chemotherapy to shrink tumor, and then re-evaluated for surgery.
There is a particular type of sarcoma that is very treatable, called gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). This cancer is uncommon and can originate from any part of the gastrointestinal tract. Early stage of GIST can be cured by surgical removal. In advanced stage when cancer is not removable, a drug called imatinib can often be effective.
We have excellent surgeons who specialize in surgery for soft tissue sarcoma (musculoskeletal surgical oncologists) in our Department of Musculoskeletal Oncology at South San Francisco Kaiser.
Specialty
Musculoskeletal Oncology
Facility
South San Francisco Medical Center
Orthopedics Department
Address
Medical Offices, 3rd Floor
1200 El Camino Real
South San Francisco CA 94080
Telephone
Appt/Advice: (650) 742-2167
Message Center: (650) 742-2191
