Sarcoma

WHAT ARE SARCOMAS?                                              

• The SARCOMAS are a group of tumors that develop in bone or soft tissue (muscles, tendons, and connective tissue). Connective tissue is a broad term that includes bone, cartilage, fat, vascular or hematopoietic tissues and sarcomas can arise in any of these types of tissues. As a result, there are many subtypes of sarcoma, which are classified based on the specific tissue and type of cell from which the tumor originates.

WHERE DOES SARCOMAS ARISE?

• Sarcomas can arise anywhere in the body and most common sites are arms, legs, chest, and abdomen.

WHY DOES SARCOMA OCCUR?                                                                                                   

• Most of them are because of random genetic changes (sporadic). Few inherited genetic syndromes, including Li-Fraumeni syndrome, heritable RB 1 gene mutations and Paget’s disease of bone, are associated with increased risk of developing bone sarcomas.

WHEN TO SUSPECT SARCOMA?                                                                                                   

• Any swelling that is increasing in size needs to be evaluated. The lump/mass may be already present for a long time but has now started to increase in size. Sarcomas that arise inside the body are often concealed and present late.

ARE THESE SARCOMAS CANCEROUS??                                                                                                   

• Sarcomas can locally increase in size (benign) or spread to other parts of the body (malignant or cancerous), such as the lungs.

WHAT ARE COMMON TYPES OF SARCOMAS SEEN IN CHILDREN?                                                                                                   

• Ewing’s sarcoma- It grows in bone and soft tissues (extra osseous) that surround bone and develops during puberty. Most common site for bone- pelvis, vertebrae, chest. It can spread to lungs, other bones and bone marrow.
• Osteosarcoma- It typically occurs in the long bones- the large bones of the arms and legs. Most common type of bone cancer in children and young adults, and it typically occurs around the time of growth spurts. It can spread to the lungs and other bones beyond the initial tumor site.
• Rhabdomyosarcoma- It is the most common soft tissue tumor in children which arises from muscle or the primitive tissue or cells that form the skeletal muscles. Most of the children are less than 10 years of age at the time of diagnosis

WHAT TESTS ARE REQUIRED TO CONFIRM?                                                                                                   

• Confirmation  requires  blood  tests,  X  -ray,  CT/MRI,  PET  CT  and  needle  or surgical biopsy. The tissue is sent for pathology and if required, further special tests to confirm type of sarcoma are performed.

WHAT TREATMENT IS REQUIRED?                                                                                                   

• After diagnosis, the required treatment is chemotherapy, surgery +/- radiotherapy. The plan of treatment is based on the tumour type, staging and other relevant clinical parameters.

WHAT ARE THE OUTCOMES?                                                                                                   

• The outcomes depend on the type and stage of tumors. Most of the common sarcomas are responsive to chemotherapy and if they present early, the outcomes are better.

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