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Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Reviewed by Medicinsk Expert•Last updated: 2026-10-22•Cancers

Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Soft tissue sarcoma is a rare form of cancer that originates in the body's connective tissues, such as muscles, fat, or blood vessels.

Overview

Your soft tissues connect, support, or surround other tissues, including muscles, tendons, fat, and blood vessels. Soft tissue sarcoma is a cancer that develops within these tissues. Because there are many types of soft tissue, there are many kinds of sarcoma, categorized based on the specific tissue where the cancer originated.

Symptoms

Sarcomas may present in the following ways:

  • A noticeable lump or swelling in the soft tissue.
  • Pressure on nerves or organs, which can lead to complications such as pain or difficulty breathing.

Causes & Risk Factors

While the exact cause of these cancers remains unknown, certain factors may increase an individual's risk:

  • Exposure to specific chemicals.
  • A history of radiation therapy.
  • The presence of certain genetic diseases.

Diagnosis & Treatment

Doctors typically diagnose soft tissue sarcomas through a biopsy. Treatment options are determined based on the individual case and may include:

  • Surgery to remove the tumor.
  • Radiation therapy.
  • Chemotherapy.
  • A combination of the above treatments.

Frequently Asked Questions

Radiation therapy can cause long-term changes to the treated area, including fibrosis (scarring and hardening of the tissue), which may lead to reduced range of motion or stiffness. In some cases, it can damage nearby nerves or blood vessels, resulting in chronic pain, numbness, or lymphedema (swelling). Rarely, radiation can increase the risk of developing a secondary cancer in the treated area years later, so long-term monitoring is necessary.
Soft tissue sarcoma biopsies must be performed by a specialist, often an orthopedic oncologist, using an incisional or excisional technique that allows for adequate tissue sampling. The path of the biopsy is critical because it must be planned so that it can be removed entirely during the final surgery. A poorly placed biopsy can contaminate surrounding healthy tissue, potentially complicating future surgical resection and increasing the risk of local recurrence.
lump that is larger than five centimeters (about the size of a golf ball), located deep beneath the skin, or growing rapidly should be evaluated promptly. Lumps that are hard, fixed in place, or causing pain are also concerning. While many soft tissue lumps are benign, these specific characteristics increase the likelihood of sarcoma and warrant a biopsy for definitive diagnosis.
For many localized soft tissue sarcomas, wide surgical excision is the primary curative treatment, and chemotherapy is not always necessary. The decision to add chemotherapy or radiation depends on the tumor's size, depth, grade, and location. High-grade or large tumors may benefit from adjuvant therapy to reduce the risk of distant metastasis, but low-grade, small, superficial tumors are often managed with surgery and close surveillance alone.
Source: MedlinePlus, National Library of Medicine

MedlinePlus brings together authoritative health information from the National Library of Medicine (NLM), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), and other government agencies and health-related organizations.

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