Nonepithelial tumors are predominantly localized in the lower extremities. According to its histological structure, sarcoma of the leg can originate from soft tissue or bone structures.
Sarcoma of the lower extremities can be primary or secondary. The reliable reason for the development of the first group of pathologies is unknown. Metastatic lesions of this location, as a rule, are formed as a result of the spread of oncology of the pelvic organs, urinary and reproductive systems.
Risk factors include:
Signs of the disease depend on the location of the tumor.
Femoral sarcoma of the leg bone
Bone pathology, as a rule, goes unnoticed for a long time. This is due to the large mass of nearby muscles that hide the osteomic compaction. Over time, the tumor manifests itself as protrusion of soft tissues, attacks of pain and impaired motor function. Involvement of the hip or knee joints in the oncological process sharply limits the mobility of the cancer patient.
Soft tissue sarcoma of the leg
This variant of sarcoma includes several types of malignant neoplasms:
Sarcoma of the toe
This location of tumor formation is detected relatively early. The proliferation of atypical tissues becomes noticeable already in the initial stages. In this case, patients report spontaneous pain and discomfort while walking. In the area of the mutation site, the skin is hyperemic and may bleed.
Sarcoma of the leg, the signs of which indicate its malignant course, is diagnosed in the following way:
The main method of treatment for sarcomas of the lower extremities is surgery. Before undergoing radical intervention, the patient must undergo a thorough diagnosis of metastases of the lymphoid system and other internal organs. Removal of a leg sarcoma is performed under general anesthesia. During the operation, the oncologist surgeon excises not only all pathological elements, but also a small part of nearby healthy tissue. This removal procedure is aimed at preventing distant relapses.
Sarcoma of the leg - amputation is necessary if the oncological process has spread significantly. Radical operations have a positive effect only in the absence of secondary lesions in regional lymph nodes.
Radiation therapy and chemotherapy are used as adjuncts. In particular, irradiation of the affected lower limb in the preoperative period stabilizes the general condition of the patient and contributes to more successful surgical intervention. Radiotherapy after tumor resection reduces the likelihood of recurrence.
Systemic administration of cytostatic agents in certain clinical cases contributes to the destruction of metastatic cells.
Carrying out specific anti-cancer treatment also includes a set of measures for the rehabilitation of cancer patients. For such patients, it is necessary to undergo orthopedic treatment, which consists of restoring lost function using prosthetics. Operated patients should also undergo a preventive examination with an oncologist once a year. This allows for timely detection of a secondary cancerous tumor.
Timely radical surgery for sarcoma of the lower extremities actually provides healing. As a result of this therapy, the patient will need orthopedic rehabilitation.
According to statistics, complex anticancer treatment (surgery, radiation therapy and cytostatic agents) causes a 75% five-year survival rate. Such indicators indicate a relatively favorable prognosis for this pathology.
It should be noted that in the terminal phases of malignant oncology, the result of therapy is negative. This is associated with the development of metastatic damage to distant organs and systems. In particular, leg sarcoma often forms metastases in the lungs. In such cases, it is not possible to cure the patient. All medical measures are aimed only at palliative care. At the same time, doctors eliminate individual manifestations of the disease and thereby maximally improve the quality of life of a seriously ill patient.
Sarcoma is a type of malignant tumor that can form anywhere in the body. The disease affects the cellular elements of connective tissue, which, in turn, is found in every human organ and anatomical part. Therefore, it is impossible to say exactly where exactly a sarcoma occurs - a tumor can form almost anywhere. Statistics say that about 5% of all malignant tumors are sarcomas; and although this percentage is low, the danger is that this tumor is associated with a high probability of death. A feature of this disease is also the risk group: more than 35% of all patients diagnosed with sarcoma are under 30 years of age. Thus, the disease often affects the developing, still growing organism of young people.
What is characteristic of sarcoma:
Sarcomas have different types, and each of them differs in the place of its development, the age and gender of the patient, as well as other indicators. These tumors are distinguished by the degree of malignancy, the risk of relapses and metastases, the depth of damage and prevalence. There are also differences at the histological and macroscopic levels. The disease forms as a node, which can take on various shapes and sizes. The boundaries of the tumor are unclear; in cross-section, the sarcoma has a light gray tint and resembles fish meat, with a large number of vessels and necrosis. Depending on the type, sarcoma can grow for several weeks, several years or even decades (therefore, tumors of fast and slow growth are distinguished). It is also characteristic of these tumors that they are always well supplied with blood.
In the human body, connective tissue is produced by several organs. Most of it falls on tendons and ligaments, bones and muscles, blood vessels and fascia, as well as connective constrictions of adipose tissue, connective tissue membranes and capsules of internal organs and nerve fibers.
As described earlier, sarcoma arises from immature cells of the connective epithelium, therefore most often it occurs on:
Much less common are sarcomas on internal organs, in the abdominal and pleural (around the lungs) cavities, as well as on peripheral nerves and the brain. But these areas cannot be completely excluded from the risk group.
Of all cancers, sarcoma has the largest number of types. Depending on the development and functioning of tissues, as many as 19 types of this disease are distinguished.
So, the main types of sarcoma:
1. Osteosarcoma is a tumor formed from the cellular part of bone tissue.
2. Chondrosarcoma is a tumor formed from cartilage tissue.
3. Paraosteal sarcoma is a tumor that originates from the periosteum (the connective tissue film that surrounds the bone from the outside).
4. Reticulosarcoma is a tumor formed from bone marrow cells.
5. Fibrosarcoma is a formation that appears on the basis of fibrous (fibrous) type connective tissue.
6. Ewing's sarcoma - got its name from the scientist James Ewing, who described it as a tumor that mainly affects only long tubular bones. One of the most aggressive types of malignant tumor.
7. Angiosarcoma is a tumor formed on the basis of the cellular elements of blood vessels.
8. Stromal sarcoma of the gastrointestinal tract and other internal organs - the basis of the tumor is any connective tissue of any human organ (usually the main one for each organ).
10. Liposarcoma is a malignant formation, the basis of which is fatty tissue.
11. Rhabdomyosarcoma is a tumor formed from muscle cells (based on striated muscles).
12. Kaposi's sarcoma - got its name from Moritz Kaposi, a Hungarian dermatologist who first described this disease. Most often found in people with HIV infection, and is characterized by multiple tumor growths of blood vessels in the skin.
13. Lymphangiosarcoma is a tumor based on lymphatic vessels and their components.
14. Dermatofibrosarcoma is a malignant formation that affects organs with a connective tissue base.
15. Synovial sarcoma is a tumor formed on the basis of a thick elastic mass filling the joint cavity.
16. Lymphosarcoma is a tumor based on tissue cells of the lymph nodes.
17. Neurofibrosarcoma is a formation based on nerve tissue.
18. Fibrous histiocytoma is a tumor based on not one, but several types of cells and fibers.
19. Spindle cell sarcoma is a malignant tumor that appears on the mucous membranes of various organs.
20. Mesothelioma - such a tumor grows from the mesothelium (the layer of skin that covers the serous membranes - the peritoneum, pericardium, pleura).
It is very important to determine exactly this characteristic of the tumor: it will tell you what stage the disease is at and will be the first to give a prognosis. By differentiation we mean the emergence of differences between homogeneous cells and tissues of the body during development. The lower the level of differentiation, the lower the chances of treatment.
Such tumors are considered the least malignant. They usually do not metastasize, develop very slowly and are generally small in size. Radiation or chemotherapy is usually used to treat this type of sarcoma. After treatment of well-differentiated sarcomas, relapses almost never occur.
An intermediate type between mild and severe forms of the disease. It is usually treated with radiation or chemotherapy with surgery.
This tumor grows rapidly and has a very high level of malignancy. The risk of metastasis to other tissues and internal organs in this case is very high. This type of tumor is usually treated only with surgery, using radiation and chemotherapy rather as an adjunct and protection against recurrence.
All types of malignant tumors that arise in the human body can be divided into three groups: epithelial (oncology), glandular (adenocarcinomas), and connective tissue tumors (sarcomas). The latter, although much less common than others, are the most dangerous because they have many varieties and can affect any organs, tissues and other anatomical segments of the human body.
Pain is the first to make itself felt - it appears in the place where the tumor grows. The pain can be either moderate or very severe. Intense painful sensations are characteristic of the most malignant, rapidly growing sarcomas.
Some patients feel fullness or a feeling of the presence of something extra right in the place where the tumor appears. Such sensations are more typical for low-grade sarcomas, that is, those that grow at a slow pace.
The pain intensifies when a person begins to perform physical activity, as well as when the affected area is palpated (palpation).
The appearance of a tumor can be determined by external signs, when its size is so large that the sarcoma is visible from the surface of the skin. In addition, the presence of a formation is also determined by palpation: when pressing, the fingers descend to a certain depth, so that one can understand how far the sarcoma is from the surface of the skin.
Malignant formation is also characterized by swelling and changes in the shape of the affected part of the body. At the site of sarcoma development there is a wound surface due to its disintegration. If the tumor disintegrates, this is always signaled by a very unpleasant odor and discharge from the site of disintegration.
Then the presence of the disease begins to be signaled by a disruption in the functioning of the organ that is affected by the sarcoma. If the legs or arms are affected, then some movements, including walking, become impossible to perform (this is typical for damage to both tissues and bones of the extremities). If the tumor appears on the internal organs, they begin to increase in size; Their performance is impaired and organ-specific failure occurs.
Sometimes people learn about sarcoma only when it has begun to metastasize, that is, to grow into surrounding tissues and organs.
Any of the above symptoms indicates that you need to urgently seek help from a doctor in order to receive competent help as soon as possible.
Only an oncologist can confirm that a growing tumor is a sarcoma. In order to confirm the diagnosis of this type of cancer, you need to undergo a series of examinations, which include:
For what reasons does sarcoma appear? Any malignant neoplasm, including sarcoma (regardless of its type), belongs to diseases that appear as a consequence of many causes and factors. Such diseases are called polyetiological, and it is very rarely possible to determine what exactly became key in the formation of the tumor.
In most cases, the following factors contribute to the occurrence of sarcoma:
Most often, sarcomas develop in a young, growing body. The reason for this is that the oncogenic effect of the above cells develops more easily in cells that are actively dividing. The malignancy of a tumor directly depends on the damage to the DNA of cells: the deeper the damage, the more severe the disease.
Sarcomas are divided into four stages of development. They are divided based on several factors, including:
1. The size of the malignant formation.
2. The presence or absence of tumor growth into neighboring tissues or organs; depth of damage.
3. Spread of sarcoma beyond the organ or anatomical segment from which it appeared.
4. The presence or absence of growth into lymph nodes located near the tumor location
5. The presence or absence of metastases to organs located far from the sarcoma itself.
It is worth noting that the type of sarcoma does not in any way affect the stage of development of the disease, but the location of this malignant tumor plays an important role. Often, the stage of development of the pathological process and its malignancy depend on which organ or anatomical segment the sarcoma originated in.
Usually the tumor itself at the first stage is small. It does not go beyond the organ in which it began to develop, does not yet affect its functionality, does not press or grow into blood vessels or nerves, does not metastasize and practically does not hurt. If sarcoma is detected at this stage, then even the most malignant tumor can be cured and return to normal life.
Depending on the place where the sarcoma began to grow, the main symptoms will differ:
With sarcoma of the oral cavity and tongue, the tumor is small (about 1 centimeter), looks like a dense node, has clear boundaries and grows from the mucous membrane or submucosal layer.
With sarcoma of the lip, the formation is usually located in the thickness of the lip, or within the mucous membrane or submucosal layer. In any case, it does not yet go beyond the shell.
With sarcoma of the soft tissues of the neck and cellular space, the sarcoma is already larger - reaches 2 cm in diameter, but at the same time it does not extend beyond the connective tissue membrane that limits it.
With sarcoma of the larynx, the tumor is also about 1 centimeter in size and is limited to the mucous membrane or other cellular layers of the larynx. Such a tumor is still too small to cause too much discomfort or interfere with speaking and breathing.
With thyroid sarcoma, the tumor is located directly in the thickness of the gland tissue. Its size is also no more than 1 cm.
With malignant sarcoma of the mammary gland, which often occurs in only one of the breasts, the tumor node can reach 3 centimeters in size. Does not extend beyond the lobule in which it was formed.
With esophageal sarcoma, a neoplasm up to 2 cm in size is located in the thickness of the wall of the esophageal tube. The tumor does not interfere with the passage of food.
With sarcoma of the lung, one of the segmental bronchi is the first to suffer. Education stays within that particular segment and does not interfere with the lungs doing their job.
With testicular sarcoma, the tumor itself is small and does not affect the tunica albuginea of the organ.
With sarcoma of the soft tissues of the legs and arms, the size of the formation can be up to 5 cm in diameter. At the same time, the tumor also remains within the connective tissue membrane.
In general, the second stage of development of this disease can be characterized as follows: the tumor begins to expand beyond the immediate area where it appeared; increases greatly in volume; begins to affect the performance of a particular organ. There are no metastases.
In each specific case, the second stage of sarcoma looks like this:
With sarcoma of the tongue and oral cavity, the tumor is clearly visible during normal visual inspection. Although it is located inside the tongue or part of the cavity, it already grows into all its tissue layers - even the mucous and connective tissue.
With sarcoma of the lip, the malignant formation is still deep in the lip, but has already grown into the mucous membrane and skin.
With sarcoma of the soft tissues of the neck and cellular space, the node reaches a larger size - from 3 to 5 cm in diameter and extends beyond the boundaries of the connective tissue that previously limited it.
With sarcoma of the larynx, the node is still small, just over 1 cm, but it already spreads to all layers of the larynx and interferes with breathing and speaking.
With thyroid sarcoma, the tumor is enlarged - approximately 2 cm. The capsule of the gland is already associated with the pathological process.
With sarcoma of the mammary gland (usually one of them), the tumor extends beyond the lobule in which it formed and grows into neighboring segments. Its dimensions already reach 5 cm.
With sarcoma of the esophagus, the tumor causes dysphagia - a disorder of swallowing and transporting food. This is due to the fact that the malignant tumor has already grown through the entire wall of the esophagus along with the fascia.
With sarcoma of the lung, compression of the bronchi or spread of the disease to adjacent segments is possible.
With testicular sarcoma, the tumor extends beyond the site of formation, involving the protein membrane in the pathological process.
With sarcoma of the soft tissues of the arms and legs, the tumor grows into the connective tissue segments of individual parts of the body (cellular space or muscles).
At stage II of the disease, the tumors themselves are still within the organ in which they appeared and do not yet metastasize. At the same time, during surgery it is necessary to remove not only the tumor itself, but also the neighboring tissues affected by it. Relapses in such cases do not occur often.
More severe degree of development of the disease. In this case, the tumor grows not only nearby tissues, but also organs located near the location of the sarcoma. Metastasis to lymph nodes located in the same region with the tumor is also possible.
Here is how this stage of the disease proceeds in relation to specific sites of development:
With sarcoma of the tongue and oral cavity, the tumor reaches a large size; the pain is very intense. Normal movements, in particular chewing, are difficult to perform. The tumor metastasizes to the lymph nodes under the lower jaw and in the neck.
With sarcoma of the lip, the node is also large - this is noticeable by the change in the shape of the lip, which now looks unnatural. The tumor can spread to nearby areas of the mucous membrane. Metastases spread to the same lymph nodes as with sarcoma of the tongue and mouth.
With sarcoma of the soft tissues of the neck and cellular space, the malignant formation grows into the vessels and nerves located there, as well as adjacent organs. It is very difficult to perform basic actions such as breathing and swallowing. Due to the large size of the sarcoma, blood supply and innervation are disrupted. The deep cervical and thoracic lymph nodes are affected by metastases.
With sarcoma of the larynx, severe disturbances in breathing and voice are felt. The tumor also grows into the fascia, vessels and nerves adjacent to the larynx. Metastases appear in both superficial and deep cervical lymph nodes.
With thyroid sarcoma, the malignant tumor grows into the tissue adjacent to this gland. The tumor metastasizes, usually to the cervical lymph nodes.
With breast sarcoma, a large tumor affects the shape of the breast: usually only one of them is affected by the disease, and it is this one that is sharply deformed. The node metastasizes to the axillary or supraclavicular lymph nodes.
With sarcoma of the esophagus, the tumor greatly interferes with the passage of food. The large size of the formation extends to the mediastinal tissue. Metastases appear in the mediastinal lymph nodes.
With lung sarcoma, the malignant tumor becomes very voluminous and compresses the bronchi. Metastases appear in the stedosthenic and peribronchial lymph nodes.
In testicular sarcoma, a large tumor causes deformation of the scrotum and grows through its different layers. Metastases appear in the inguinal lymph nodes.
With sarcoma of the soft tissues of the arms and legs, the tumor focus can reach 10 centimeters. The functionality of the limb is severely impaired, and the place where the tumor grows is sharply deformed. Metastases appear in regional lymph nodes.
The prognosis at this stage is very disappointing. The treatment is very long and requires multiple surgical interventions; at the third stage of development, sarcoma often relapses.
The most severe degree of development of a malignant tumor. It is worst to seek help only at the fourth stage, because it is already obvious to the patient himself that he has serious health problems. The biggest danger with this type of oncology is that at this stage the malignant formation is enormous in size and puts pressure on neighboring organs and tissues, vessels and nerves, disrupting their function. Such tumors grow deeply into adjacent anatomical segments, often disintegrate and bleed.
At stage 4, sarcoma always metastasizes to lymph nodes close in location. In most cases, there are distant metastases - the liver, lungs, bones and brain are affected. Changes in different organs and locations do not need a separate description, since everything is very similar to the previous stage. The only difference is that the situation worsens even more, the tumor has a destructive effect and is characterized by metastasis to distant organs.
Metastasis is a process in which tumor cells are transferred to healthy internal organs, as well as lymph nodes, and infect them. The metastases themselves—infected cells—move through venous or lymphatic vessels. Where a lot of cells have accumulated, they attach and begin to grow actively. It is almost impossible to say exactly which organ will be affected by metastases if the disease is already developing. However, the most common targets of tumor cells are lymph nodes (especially local ones), liver, lungs, flat bones, spine and brain. Depending on what histological type was found from the patient, it will be possible to determine which organ is most at risk. Most types of sarcoma at stage 4 of the disease metastasize to the liver.
Statistics say that fibrous sarcoma, lymphosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma and liposarcoma give the most metastases. These types of sarcoma are capable of infecting other organs, tissues and anatomical segments even when the size of the tumor does not even reach 1 centimeter. This is due to the fact that the tumor site is very well supplied with blood and is actively growing, and a high concentration of calcium also plays a role. Such tumor cells do not have a capsule, which means that nothing limits their growth and division.
If metastases appear only in local lymph nodes, then this does not particularly complicate the course of the disease and, accordingly, its treatment. True, this cannot be said about metastasis to organs located far from the tumor site. Internal organs affected by metastases begin to enlarge and even multiply. Their functionality is greatly impaired. It is not always possible to get rid of metastases using surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy - for example, only single metastases located in a specific area of the liver, bone or lung can be removed. If there are a lot of metastases, they are no longer removed - this does not give any result.
Although the primary tumor also gives metastases, they themselves are different in nature. Thus, metastases have fewer vessels than the main tumor, as well as cellular mitoses and other atypical signs, compared to the tumor itself. They have many areas of necrosis. In some cases, doctors first detect metastases, but the lesion is not yet visible. Only a doctor with extensive experience can tell which type of sarcoma gave a particular metastasis, based on its structure.
Treatment for this disease is prescribed only by a specialized doctor and only after undergoing an examination. Therapy is carried out in accordance with the principles of oncological care accepted today.
Basically, the approach is complex, consisting of several individual therapies:
The specific treatment will depend on several factors:
The most basic treatment for sarcoma is surgery. You can completely recover from the disease only by removing the tumor. Depending on the individual characteristics of the patient and the tumor, the operation itself, as well as preparation for it and the duration of the postoperative period and rehabilitation, can vary greatly from patient to patient.
Treatment tactics may look like this:
Highly and moderately differentiated sarcomas at the 1st or 2nd stage of development, wherever they are located, are necessarily removed by the surgeon during surgery, and also perform local lymph node dissection. This treatment can be performed on both young and elderly people. After surgery, polychemotherapy or radiation therapy (external) is prescribed (a course or two). The decision about whether they need to be carried out and how long the treatment will last is made by the doctor based on the examination of the patient after the operation.
Poorly differentiated sarcomas at the 1st or 2nd stage of development must also be removed - while this can still be done. In this case, lymph node dissection should be extended, and chemotherapy should be prescribed not only after, but also before the operation itself.
Tumors at the 3rd stage of development are treated only by combining all treatment methods in different proportions, depending on each case individually. Before surgical removal of the tumor, both radiation and chemotherapy are usually given. This treatment helps shrink the tumor, making it easier to remove. With direct surgical intervention, not only the sarcoma itself is removed, but also the tissues that it has grown into; They also restore damaged vessels and nerves and perform excision of local lymphatic drainage collectors. Chemotherapy is always prescribed after surgery.
Osteosarcoma usually requires combination therapy. The danger of this disease is that most often surgery ends with amputation of the affected arm or leg. After this, a prosthesis is placed in place of the removed limb. Osteosarcoma allows you to remove only a piece of bone (exactly the one that is affected) only in elderly people (cell division is no longer the same as in a young body), and only if the tumor is highly differentiated and is located on the surface.
For sarcoma at the 4th stage of development, therapy necessarily includes symptomatic treatment: taking analgesics, detoxification, correction of anemia, etc. Complete treatment of such tumors is rarely possible - it can be used in cases where the tumor can be completely removed (that is, the sarcoma has not grown into vital anatomical segments), and metastases have only a single manifestation in one of the internal organs.
The nature of malignant tumors is very diverse. There are many different forms of cancer, varying in structure, grade, origin and type of cells. Sarcoma is considered one of the dangerous formations, which will be discussed.
Sarcoma is a malignant tumor process that originates from connective tissue cellular structures.
This type of tumor does not have any strict localization, since connective tissue elements are present in all structures of the body, so sarcomas can occur in any organ.
In the photo you can see what the initial stage of Kaposi's sarcoma looks like
The danger of sarcoma is also that this tumor in a third of cases affects young patients under 30 years of age.
Sarcoma has many classifications. According to the origin of sarcomas, they are divided into:
According to the degree of malignancy, sarcomas are divided into:
Depending on the type of tissue, sarcomas are classified into osteosarcoma, reticulosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, cystosarcoma, liposarcoma, etc.
According to the degree of differentiation, sarcomas are divided into several types:
Cellular differentiation involves determining the type of cells, the type of tissue to which they belong, etc. With a decrease in cell differentiation, the malignancy of sarcoma formation increases.
As malignancy increases, the tumor begins to grow rapidly, which leads to increased infiltration and even more rapid development of the tumor process.
The exact causes of sarcomas have not been established, however, scientists have established a connection between certain factors and the tumor.
Such factors cause uncontrolled division of cellular connective tissue structures. As a result, abnormal cells form a tumor and grow into neighboring organs and destroy them.
Clinical manifestations of sarcoma vary according to the specific form of the tumor, its location, and the degree of development of the sarcoma.
At the first stage of the tumor process, a rapidly progressing formation is usually detected, but with its development, neighboring structures are also involved in the tumor process.
Sarcomas that form in the abdominal cavity have symptoms similar to those of cancer. Abdominal sarcomas develop in the tissues of various organs.
As you can see, sarcomas of organs located in the abdominal cavity are often accompanied by similar symptoms.
Tumors of such localization most often arise due to metastasis from other foci. Symptoms vary somewhat depending on the location.
Spinal sarcoma is a malignant tumor formation in the spinal tissues and adjacent structures. The danger of pathology is compression or damage to the spinal cord or its roots.
Symptoms of vertebral sarcoma are determined by its location, for example, in the cervical, thoracic, lumbosacral, or cauda equina.
However, all lumbar tumors have common symptoms:
The main symptoms of cerebral sarcoma are:
Ovarian sarcoma is characterized by large size and rapid growth, scanty symptoms such as nagging pain, heaviness in the lower abdomen, menstrual irregularities, and sometimes ascites. Sarcoma is often bilateral and develops very quickly.
Primary sarcomas usually form in the upper parts of the orbit, and this form is more common in children.
Such tumors grow quickly, increasing in size. There is a feeling of distension and pain in the eye socket. The eyeball is limited in mobility and moves, and exophthalmos develops.
The clinical picture of lymphosarcoma depends on the primary focus, or more precisely, its location. Lymphosarcoma is most often B-cell in nature and is similar in course to acute leukemia.
Laryngeal sarcoma is accompanied by difficulty swallowing, the voice becomes hoarse, and if the tumor is localized under the ligaments, a pathological narrowing of the esophagus and respiratory tract occurs.
Prostate sarcoma is characterized by aggressive and rapid development, and it begins to show characteristic manifestations when it reaches a significant size or when it metastasizes to neighboring structures.
Symptoms: increased frequency and difficulty urinating, intense pain in the lower abdomen and anus, hyperthermia, sudden weight loss and rapid exhaustion of the body.
Sarcoma formations have a fairly abundant variety of forms, each of which has its own characteristics and differences.
This form of the tumor process is most often characteristic of the endometrium and develops in the uterus. The main cause of this disease is radiation to which the woman was once exposed.
In addition, frequent gynecological curettages, abortions and birth injuries, endometriosis and polyposis can cause stromal sarcoma. Manifests itself with bleeding and pain symptoms.
This tumor consists of spindle-shaped cell structures. It is often confused with fibroma.
The nodes of spindle cell sarcoma have a dense fibrous structure and prefer skin, mucous tissue, fascia and serous tissue.
If such a sarcoma is detected at an early stage, then the patient has a chance of favorable prognosis.
It belongs to soft tissue formations and is characterized by high recurrence (more than 40%), hepatic, pulmonary and cerebral metastasis through the lymphogenous route. Such formations are localized mainly deep in muscle tissue. The onset of development is asymptomatic, which makes early diagnosis difficult.
This sarcoma is most often found in the extremities, less often on the torso. A similar tumor is detected when it grows to a large size (more than 10 cm).
It is a nodular, dense formation with a lobular structure containing areas of hemorrhage of dead tissue. Often patients die within the first 12 months from the moment of detection of pleomorphic sarcoma, which is characterized by low survival rate, no more than 10%.
This is a primary cutaneous sarcoma that forms along the soft tissue periphery. During the process of growth, such sarcomas ulcerate, metastasize through the lymphogenous route, and are accompanied by characteristic growth of the spleen. Can only be treated surgically.
This is an education that is impossible or too difficult to attribute to any class or type. Such sarcomas are not associated with any specific cellular structures, but are treated similarly to rhabdomyosarcomas.
Such a formation contains polymorphic cellular structures. The tumor has a poor prognosis because it quickly generalizes. Such sarcoma is characterized by an aggressive course and a negative reaction to therapeutic effects. The pathology most often affects the gastrointestinal tract, skin and soft tissue structures.
This sarcoma consists of round cell structures, develops quickly and is a highly malignant tumor. Affects soft tissue and skin structures.
This tumor is of low malignancy. Affects patients regardless of age. It is localized mainly on the hips, shoulders, and torso. Such formations usually grow rather slowly and practically do not metastasize.
This tumor affects the immune structures and is characterized by polymorphic symptoms. It is characterized by enlarged lymph nodes, autoimmune anemia, and eczema-like skin lesions. The tumor compresses the vessels of the circulatory and lymphatic systems, which provokes the development of necrosis.
Such sarcomas primarily affect the extremities, and more often in young patients. This tumor is considered a type of synovial sarcoma.
Local tumor consisting of myeloblasts of the leukemic type. It is most often localized in the cranial bones, lymph nodes, intraorganic structures, spongy or tubular bone tissue, etc.
Fasciogenic formation, most often located in the neck, head, torso and affects soft tissue structures. Such a tumor develops slowly and for a long time, and relapses and metastasis often occur.
It is formed mainly on the legs, develops slowly, contains spindle-shaped cells, and is distinguished by delimitation from other tissues. Treatment for such a tumor is only surgical, but the prognosis is favorable. Survival rate is about 80%.
Sarcoma differs from cancer in its connective tissue origin, while cancers are formed from ectodermal and epithelial cell structures.
Such a tumor occurs wherever there are connective tissue cells.
Sarcoma develops in stages:
A similar phenomenon in sarcoma tumors is the secondary formation of tumor foci. Malignant cells break off and enter the lymph or bloodstream.
With blood, abnormal cellular structures travel through the body's systems. When they stop at the place they like, a metastasis is formed.
Diagnostic measures involve standard procedures such as:
Treatment of sarcoma is predominantly surgical with additional chemotherapy or radiation. It is combination treatment that provides maximum effectiveness.
This approach helps to increase survival rate to 70% of cases. Since the tumor is sensitive to radiation, this technique necessarily complements surgical removal.
Prognosis for sarcoma is determined by the stage of the tumor process, its shape and location, the presence of metastases, etc.
For example, gastric sarcoma in a third of cases is characterized by early metastasis, which negatively affects prognosis. Retroperitoneal sarcoma is difficult to predict because it has many variants of clinical course with different outcomes.
More accurate survival predictions depend on the specific type of sarcoma, each of which requires an individual approach. The response to treatment, the patient’s condition and other factors are also important.