Fibro sarcoma - fibrous tissues

This originates in the fibrous tissue found at the end of long bones in the arms and legs, and in the trunk. Fibro sarcomas generally occur in adults under 60, but infants and the elderly can also be affected.

Fibro sarcomas are the result of fibroblasts, which produce connective tissue such as collagen. Fibro sarcoma tumors are consequently rich in collagen fibers. The immature, proliferating fibroblasts take on an interlacing, or herringbone, pattern. Fibro sarcomas can form from fibroblasts in soft tissue such as muscles, connective tissues, blood vessels, joints, and fat. Soft tissue fibro sarcoma normally occurs in fibrous tissue of the body's trunk and the extremities such as the arms and legs. Soft tissue fibro sarcomas are extremely rare, with approximately 500 new cases reported each year.

Symptoms

· Local pain

· Local swelling

· Local warmth

· Dilated blood vessels

Causes

· No definite cause

· Maybe related to genetic mutations

Prevention

The prevention of cancer can be assisted by avoiding known chemical carcinogens such as alpha-naphthylamine, carbon tetrachloride, and benzene. Another way to avoid developing cancer is to minimize exposure to penetrating radiation such as x rays and radioactive elements. Medical x rays revolutionized the field of medicine and are used to detect and treat many diseases. In most cases, the benefits of medical x rays outweigh the risks.

Medical Tests & Diagnosis

In order to diagnose fibrosarcoma, a doctor will take the patient's medical history and will conduct a thorough physical exam. Blood tests will be performed to rule out other conditions and to identify cancer markers.

The most revealing initial exam is an x ray. It can show the location, size, and shape of the tumor. If a malignant tumor is present, the x ray will expose a soft tissue mass with ill-defined edges. This procedure takes less than an hour and can be performed in the doctor's office. Once there is evidence of a tumor, one or more of several other procedures may be performed, including computed tomography scans, magnetic resonance imaging , angiograms, and biopsies.

Treatments

Radiation therapy :Radiation therapy (also called radiotherapy) is a type of local therapy. It affects cells only in the treated area. Radiation therapy is used alone for small tumors or for patients who cannot have surgery. It may be used before surgery to kill cancer cells and shrink the tumor. It also may be used after surgery to destroy cancer cells that may remain in the area.

Surgery: Physicians at Mayo Clinic typically recommend that liposarcomas be surgically removed whenever possible. Surgeons try to remove the primary cancer completely while minimizing the impact on the function and appearance of the affected part of the body. Patients who undergo surgery receive a thorough evaluation by an anesthesiologist prior to surgery.

Computed tomography (CT): is a medical imaging method employing tomography created by computer processing. Digital geometry processing is used to generate a three-dimensional image of the inside of an object from a large series of two-dimensional X-ray images taken around a single axis of rotation.