Malignant Soft Tissue Tumors

Malignant soft tissue tumors grow in connective tissues that support your entire body — muscles, ligaments, tendons, cartilage, fat and blood and lymph vessels. They can show up anywhere in your body. Most often, you’ll find them in your arms and legs.

When sarcomas are small, painless and slow growing, it can be easy to overlook them. Or maybe not think anything’s suspicious. That’s why they’re often misdiagnosed as benign (noncancerous) masses like lipomas.

There are roughly 50 kinds of malignant soft tissue tumors. Common ones include:

• Desmoplastic small round cell tumors.
• Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST).
• Leiomyosarcoma.
• Liposarcoma.
• Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor.
• Synovial sarcoma.
• Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma.
• Angiosarcoma.
• Kaposi sarcoma.

Left untreated, some of these tumors can grow very large before becoming painful and causing other, more noticeable symptoms. So, it’s important to have healthcare providers who’re experienced in recognizing the signs of sarcomas and confirming the right diagnosis.

What to expect at your first visit

We understand you might feel worried about what’s next. That’s why we ease into your first appointment. We start by talking with each other. It’s important for us to understand what’s been going on. You’ll want to be prepared to share:

• When you first noticed the lump.
• Where the lump is.
• If the lump is getting larger or painful.
• What other symptoms you’re having.
• How your symptoms are affecting your life.
• If any other family members have or have had tumors.

After you and your provider talk for a bit and get to know each other better, you’ll have a physical exam. Your healthcare provider will check for visible lumps under your skin, especially on your arms and legs. They may also check other areas of your body to feel for lumps that may be deeper in your body. Additionally, your provider may order tests to get a better look at what’s going on.

Testing for malignant soft tissue tumors

We confirm a malignant soft tissue tumor diagnosis and stage it by doing a combination of the following tests:

• CT scan (computed tomography scan).
• MRI (magnetic resonance imaging).
• PET scan (positron emission tomography scan).
• Ultrasound.
• X-ray.
• Needle biopsy.

Second opinions for malignant soft tissue tumors

No one wants to hear the words, “You have cancer.” But when it happens, you’ll want to make sure you’re working with a team of healthcare providers you trust to give you the best possible treatment.

Getting a second opinion can help you feel in control of your care. That’s why we encourage them at Cleveland Clinic. We know cancer doesn’t wait, so we do our best to see you as soon as possible when you reach out to us for a second opinion. Our team of experts helps you better understand your diagnosis and what treatments may be the right choice for you. Knowing you’re in the most capable and compassionate hands can give you some peace of mind about next steps.

We personalize your entire experience at Cleveland Clinic, starting with your care team. Your team is made up of providers from different specialties. All are handpicked to meet your unique needs. Your team may include:

• General surgery.
• Gynecologic oncology.
• Head and Neck Surgery.
• Intracranial neurosurgery.
• Medical oncologists.
• Nurse practitioners.
• Occupational therapists.
• Palliative care specialists.
• Pathologists.
• Pediatric oncologists.
• Plastic surgery.
• Psychologist/Psychiatrist.
• Physical therapists.
• Radiation oncologists (cancer specialists that treat you with radiation therapy).
• Radiologists.
• Surgical oncologists (cancer specialists that perform surgeries).
• Social workers.
• Thoracic surgery.
• Urology.
• Care coordinators (caregivers who keep you up to speed on your care plan and advocate on your behalf).

Your care team works together to create a personalized care plan built around your unique diagnosis. Treatment depends on how large the tumor is, where it is and if it’s spread to other areas of your body.

If the cancer hasn’t spread, we may do surgery to remove it. If the cancer has spread to other areas of your body or is too deep or large to remove with surgery, you may receive a combination of treatments, including:

• Chemotherapy.
• Immunotherapy.
• Radiation therapy.
• Targeted therapy.

Surgery may also be combined with these treatments. You may only have one or two treatments. Or you may need several therapies working together to attack the cancer cells and keep them from coming back.

Taking the Next Step

When a small lump becomes a big cancer, you’ll want the best possible healthcare team on your side. Cleveland Clinic’s malignant soft tissue tumors experts are here to make sure your treatment matches your specific needs. And you’ll get all of the compassionate support you need to move forward into each new step of this journey.