Sarcoma | |
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Other names | Sarcomas, sarcomata |
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Optical coherence tomography (OCT) image of a sarcoma | |
Specialty | Oncology |
A sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that arises from cells of mesenchymal origin.[1][2] Originating from mesenchymal cells means that sarcomas are cancers of connective tissues such as bone, cartilage, muscle, fat, or vascular tissues.[2][3]
Sarcomas are one of five different types of cancer, classified by the cell type from which they originate.[4] While there are five types under this category, sarcomas are most frequently contrasted with carcinomas which are much more common. Sarcomas are quite rare, making up about 1% of all adult cancer diagnoses and 15% of childhood cancer diagnoses.[5]
There are many subtypes of sarcoma, which are classified based on the specific tissue and type of cell from which the tumor originates.[6] Common examples of sarcoma include liposarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, and osteosarcoma. Sarcomas are primary connective tissue tumors, meaning that they arise in connective tissues.[2] This is in contrast to secondary (or "metastatic") connective tissue tumors, which occur when a cancer from elsewhere in the body (such as the lungs, breast tissue or prostate) spreads to the connective tissue.[7]
The word sarcoma is derived from the Greek σάρκωμα sarkōma 'fleshy excrescence or substance', itself from σάρξ sarx meaning 'flesh'.[8][9][10]
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