Spindle Cell Sarcoma

Spindle Cell Sarcoma

Spindle cell sarcoma, named for the spindle shape of individual cancer cells when examined under a microscope, is most prominently diagnosed in patients over the age of 40. Spindle cell sarcoma is the name given to four distinctive types of cancer that develop in the connective tissues and bone.

Undifferentiated Sarcoma of the Bone

Undifferentiated sarcoma of the bone occurs when tumors form in the soft tissue or bone from cells that are not specialized. This means that you cannot tell through microscopic examination what kind of cell the cancer derived from or what the cell was before it metastasized.

Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma

According to Cancer Research UK, malignant fibrous histiocytoma is found most frequently in the soft tissue or bones of the limbs of middle-aged or elderly individuals. It has four sub-types: storiform-pleomorphic , myxoid, giant cell and inflammatory.

Fibrosarcoma

Another rare form of cancer, which prominently appears between the ages of 20 and 60, is fibrosarcoma. These specialized cancer cells are often found in the thigh, in the fibrous connective tissues.

Leiomyosarcoma

These tumors begin in smooth muscle, but can, in extremely rare circumstances, also occur in the bone. They can occur in any area of the body and are most prominent in the elderly.

Tumor-like Conditions

There are a number of things that can occur in the soft tissue that at first look like sarcoma but turn out not to be malignant, including swelling from bruising or blunt trauma. Diagnostic testing should be performed to confirm the presence of a malignant tumor.

Tags: soft tissue, cancer cells, cell sarcoma, connective tissues, Spindle Cell