A soft tissue tumor is a benign or rarely malignant growth of soft tissue. The naming of a soft tissue tumor is based on their site of occurrence and in distinction of benign or malignant. Diagnosis and treatment require competent medical care and often occur in specialized centers.
What is soft tissue tumor?
A soft tissue tumor is a growth that originates in soft tissue. The main soft tissues are connective tissue, fatty tissue, muscle tissue and nerve tissue. Soft tissue tumors are named according to their site of occurrence, for example, as fibroma in connective tissue and neurofibroma in nervous tissue. With only 2% very rare, are malignant soft tissue tumors called soft tissue sarcomas, soft tissue cancer; for example, fibrosarcoma or neurofibrosarcoma. Sarcomas usually originate in the legs, from where they spread to other parts of the body and organs via blood vessels and form daughter tumors (metastases). However, they can also occur in other parts of the body.
Causes
The causes of soft tissue tumors have not yet been scientifically determined. Today, contact with toxic substances such as asbestos, dioxin, or polyvinyl chloride is suspected as risk factors for soft tissue sarcomas. Evidence has been found of an increasing incidence of malignant soft tissue tumors in adults who received radiation therapy in childhood to combat other cancers.
Symptoms, complaints, and signs
Soft tissue tumors can be benign or malignant. When symptoms of benign tumors occur, they are exclusively in the form of minor swelling. In unfavorable cases, this leads to a slight disturbance in the musculoskeletal system. Joints, for example, can then no longer be stretched as usual. A malignant soft tissue sarcoma occurs in most cases in the arms or legs. It is rarely found in the abdomen or neck. Initially, no complaints arise. Only after some time do patients notice an unusual swelling. If pain then develops, it is often due to the tumor exerting pressure on neighboring nerves and bones. If a malignant soft tissue tumor near a joint reaches an extensive size, it can severely interfere with arm and leg movements. A normal everyday life is then hardly possible. Sarcoma causes a number of other signs familiar from infections. Those affected complain of frequent fatigue, permanent phases of lack of concentration and a general drop in performance. The skin also indicates an illness: It is strangely pale]. Many patients lose weight within a short time without having changed their lifestyle habits. In some cases, the lungs are also affected at the time of diagnosis. Shortness of breath and coughing then accompany daily life.
Diagnosis and course
Both types of soft tissue tumor initially manifest as a painless swelling, often misinterpreted by affected individuals as a bruise. The benign soft-tissue tumor causes no other symptoms; only when the sarcoma spreads do additional complaints appear, such as pain, restricted movement of the affected body parts, and a poor general condition with uncontrollable weight loss, fatigue, and pallor. Patients with prolonged and rapidly growing swellings should consult a physician. He or she will initiate an ultrasound to distinguish benign from malignant soft tissue tumors. MRI or CT may be used to determine whether metastases have already formed. A biopsy is also necessary to determine the aggressiveness of the sarcoma and thus its treatability. Patients can find out for themselves the likelihood of sarcoma by watching for the following characteristics:
Rapid growth of the tumor, pain, unintended weight loss, and night sweats. The displaceability is also clear: while benign soft tissue tumors can be displaced under the skin, sarcomas are rigid. The course and prognosis of a sarcoma depend on its size and location and any metastases that have already formed. If the cancer has been completely removed, there is a good prognosis, but regular examinations are essential.
Complications
With appropriate treatment, a benign soft tissue tumor usually takes a positive course and does not result in major symptoms. Complications can occur if the tumor spreads and presses on adjacent structures.Pressure on blood and lymph vessels, for example, can cause swelling in the tissues, while stress on nerves or periosteum is associated with severe pain. Metastatic disease can also be accompanied by a decline in physical and mental performance. As the disease progresses, weight loss, fever and other general complaints then occur, for example, which carry the risk of serious complications. A malignant soft tissue tumor more often takes a negative course and in the worst case leads to death. A biopsy used to diagnose a tumor can cause complications such as bleeding, injury, and infection. In the case of a malignant tumor, there is a small risk of cancer cells being carried away during tissue removal. In the case of treatment with radiation or chemotherapy, late effects such as damage to the mucous membrane, hair loss and permanent damage to the gastrointestinal tract cannot be ruled out. In the course of an operation, tissue structures are injured in individual cases or an infection occurs. Prescribed drugs can cause the usual side effects. Permanent organ damage is conceivable with prolonged use.
When should you see a doctor?
Consultation with a physician is indicated as soon as the affected person notices swelling, ulcers, or unusual changes on the body. If there are irregularities in locomotion, joint activity or bone structure, a visit to the doctor is necessary. Impairments of functional abilities in the organism should always be examined and treated. Therefore, a check-up visit should be initiated if diffuse irregularities in the daily process are noticed. General malaise, inner weakness as well as a feeling of illness also indicate disorders in the human organism. If the affected person suffers from pain, sensitivity to pressure on the skin, as well as changes in the appearance of the skin, he should consult a doctor. Characteristic for a present disease is a pale appearance. It should be understood as a warning signal. In case of an increase of existing irregularities as well as a spreading of complaints, the consultation of a physician is always recommended. If the physical resilience decreases, there are disturbances of attention or concentration and the sleep rhythm is upset, the affected person needs a doctor. In the case of tiredness, fatigue and rapid fatigability, a visit to the doctor should also be made. If there is a sudden decline in health or if the person affected notices a gradual decrease in his or her ability to perform, there is a need for action. Loss of zest for life is another sign that should be followed up.
Treatment and therapy
Benign soft tissue tumors do not require treatment and only need to be surgically removed if the patient is experiencing pain or perceived disturbance. Patients with sarcomas are treated in specialized centers, where the best possible therapy for the patient and disease progression is determined. Treatment is based on the type of soft tissue tumor: operable, inoperable or already metastasized? Operable sarcomas, as the name suggests, are surgically removed as completely as possible. This is followed, or ideally still during the operation, by radiation therapy. This requires a special radiation device, which not every center has yet. If the tumor is inoperable due to its size, practitioners attempt to shrink the sarcoma with preoperative therapy in the form of radiation, chemotherapy, or isolated hyperthermic limb perfusion (ILS). With ILS, the physician flushes the affected body part with a heated treatment solution. If the sarcoma has become operable as a result of this preoperative therapy, treatment follows the guidelines for operable sarcomas. Advanced soft tissue tumors that have already developed metastases require chemotherapy. After this, it is possible in some cases to surgically remove the tumor and metastases. However, if the sarcoma was diagnosed very late and the cancer is very advanced, chemotherapy or radiation can only improve the symptoms, and a cure must be considered very unlikely.
Prevention
Since no definite causes of soft tissue tumors are known, only general measures of prevention can be recommended.This includes avoiding contact with cancer-causing toxins and reducing exposure to radiation. Regular examinations of existing tumors and discussion of changes in size with the treating physician are also important.
Follow-up care
Medical treatment of the soft tissue tumor is followed by follow-up care. Its focus is on early detection and treatment of a recurrence of the cancer. Doctors refer to this as a recurrence. At the same time, aftercare serves to treat and alleviate concomitant diseases or undesirable after-effects of tumor therapy. It is not uncommon for patients to suffer from the psychological and social consequences of cancer. Aftercare helps them to cope with these problems. Regular check-ups are an important focus. They are performed at specific time intervals. These follow-up examinations are also important if the soft tissue tumor cannot be completely cured. In this way, the physician receives the necessary information about the course of the therapy. The examination measures are carried out in a tumor center that specializes in diseases of this type or by an oncologist. Follow-up examinations normally take place every three months, regardless of the symptoms. If a recurrence appears, it can be detected and treated in time by the examinations. The way in which the follow-up examinations are carried out depends on the individual situation of the patient. The severity of the soft tissue tumor at the time of its diagnosis also plays a role. As part of the follow-up, the physician performs a physical examination or conducts an ultrasound examination or magnetic resonance imaging. Likewise, X-rays may be required.
What you can do yourself
In the case of a soft tissue tumor, the options for self-help are severely limited. To alleviate the symptoms, cooperation with a physician is unavoidable. The instructions of the attending physician must be strictly followed to avoid complications. Changes or abnormalities must be discussed with him immediately. In everyday life, the consumption of harmful substances should be completely avoided. Nicotine significantly harms the organism and should therefore be avoided. Situations of physical overexertion or stress should also be avoided in everyday life. Studies have shown that mental strength is helpful in coping with the disease. Therefore, care must be taken to ensure that, despite all developments, there is room and time for stabilization of well-being and positive leisure activities. Sufferers often experience increased fatigue. It is advisable to check sleep hygiene and optimize it if necessary. Restful sleep is important in the recovery process as well as in dealing with health circumstances. Exercise options should also be tailored to physical needs. Sports activities or the performance of occupational activities should be reviewed. Tips and advice from a physiotherapist can help to perform daily tasks in the best possible way. Nevertheless, the help of relatives or people in the social environment should be sought.
