Soft Tissue Sarcoma

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Abstract

Soft tissue sarcoma (STS) is a rare tumor, occurring in approximately one to four of every 100,000 individuals worldwide. Soft tissue sarcomas can form anywhere in the body, including muscle, tendons, fat, blood vessels, lymph vessels, nerves, and tissues around joints. They are most common in the head, neck, arms, legs, trunk, and abdomen. Prognosis is generally poor, with a relative survival rate of approximately 65% at five years, with little difference by race. Approximately 11,930 cases and 4,870 deaths from STS occurred in the United States in 2015. The etiology of STS is still poorly understood, which makes prevention of this relatively rare cancer difficult. A major complication in studying STS is the histologic diversity —more than 100 subtypes. Newer investigations are evaluating molecular characteristics and prognostic factors but continue to be hampered by a lack of standardized histology.