Sarcomas

Sarcomas are divided into soft tissue sarcomas and bone sarcomas. Both groups have different behaviour and thus the treatment principles also differ, both between and within the groups. In the early stages sarcomas cause very few symptoms. Bone sarcomas cause pain, swelling or locally increased skin temperature only at a late stage and when they are fairly large. Soft-tissue sarcomas are usually painless even in the late stage. Sarcomas spread mainly via the bloodstream, rarely to local lymph nodes. Sarcomas send metastases most typically to the lungs. Basic management consists of an appropriate combination of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy.