Most Common Types Of Sarcoma: Symptoms And Treatments
The different types of sarcoma are very diverse neoplasms that manifest themselves through different symptoms. Sometimes symptoms include subcutaneous swelling, others experience bone pain or abdominal distension and even weight loss.
According to the American Cancer Society, it corresponds to an oncological variant that proliferates in soft and bone tissues, from adipose (fat) to nervous, also affecting bones and muscles.
Sarcomas are not very common. Several studies indicate that, for example, osteosarcoma (bone cancer) accounts for only 0.2% of all malignancies; this translates into an incidence of three cases per million people per year.
Cancer and its spread
Cancer is a disease characterized by uncontrolled cell proliferation in a certain area of the body. This phenomenon causes the appearance of tumors, which extend to other areas producing the so-called metastases.
The Spanish Society of Medical Oncology (SEOM) provides up-to-date data on the situation globally:
- In 2018, more than 18 million cancer cases were identified worldwide.
- Of these, 11.6% corresponded to lung malignancies.
- The least frequent diagnosis was uterine cancer (2.1%), while in 24.6% it was less common malignancies (not counted as unique types).
- In 2019, 277,234 cases were diagnosed in Spain.
- Globally, there is an annual increase in diagnosed cases. It is estimated that nearly 30 million more malignancies will be diagnosed in 2040 (63% more than in 2018).
These are alarming figures, which is why it is good to know the different cancers including sarcoma. Although it is an uncommon cancer, raising awareness can save thousands of lives around the world.
Types of sarcoma
All types of sarcoma are malignant tumors that originate in the bone and soft tissues. According to statistics, they account for 20% of childhood solid cancer cases and less than 1% in adults.
The development of this pathology depends on genetic and environmental factors. Nonetheless, the direct causes are unknown. According to an article published on the scientific portal ScienceDirect in 2007, there are different types of sarcoma, which we talk about in the following lines.
Liposarcoma
It is the most common subtype and accounts for 20% of identified sarcoma cases in the United States. This cancer develops in the fat cells of any part of the body, but especially in the fatty tissue of the extremities or abdomen.
It is very conspicuous, in fact when it appears in the legs or arms it is possible to observe a continuously growing subcutaneous swelling, pain and weakening of the affected extremity. In the case of abdominal tumors, the most common symptoms include constipation, bloating and pain.
In most cases, surgical removal of the tumor and radiation therapy are used. Although there are several types of liposarcoma, classified according to their morphology, they generally do not produce metastases and the problem is resolved by surgery.
Leiomyosarcoma
According to The Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative, leiomyosarcoma is a tumor derived from smooth muscle cells, usually in the uterus or stomach. Of all the sarcomas affecting the soft parts, this represents a percentage of cases between 5 and 10%, which is one of the most common.
There are no specific traits for the diagnosis of this pathology, but the sources cited previously report that it is more common from the age of 50 or 60 and that it mainly affects women. Numerous studies indicate that gemcitabine-based treatment offers good results in more than 50% of patients.
Synovial sarcoma
Synovial sarcoma is less common and usually appears near the joints (particularly the knees) in young adults. It is characterized by the presence of a deep, slow-growing swelling, as well as sensitive or painful to the touch.
Some research shows that this tumor is related to chromosomal variations, which means that it has a significant genetic component. Just like in the case of liposarcoma, surgical removal is the best choice available.
Other types of sarcoma
Although we have talked about three of the most common types, there are others that we cannot avoid mentioning:
- Angiosarcoma : develops in the endothelium of blood or lymphatic vessels.
- Kaposi’s sarcoma : causes the appearance of pinkish nodules under the skin or, less frequently, in the oral mucosa. Its onset is more common among immunosuppressed people, such as AIDS patients.
- Rhabdomyosarcoma : malignant tumor of the striated musculature. It is the most common sarcoma in childhood, with an incidence of four children in a million.
- Osteosarcoma : bone cancer.
There are as many types of sarcoma as there are tissues present in the human being; as a result, the list turns out to be very long. It must be understood that it is a malignant tumor that presents multiple variations depending on its location.
What to remember about the different types of sarcoma?
They are tumors that develop in bone and soft tissues. Therefore, there are different types that present specific symptoms according to the point of origin.
Timeliness in identifying them is essential to increase the patient ‘s life expectancy. In the presence of any suspicious or painful swelling, you must immediately undergo a medical examination.
