Sarcoma - Definition and Overview

A sarcoma is a cancer of the bone, cartilage, fat, muscle, blood vessels, or other connective or supportive tissue.

The term comes from a Greek word meaning "fleshy growth." Bone tumors osteosarcomas are also called sarcomas, but are in a separate category because they have different clinical and microscopic characteristics and are treated differently. Osteogenic sarcoma or osteosarcoma is one of the most common childhood bone cancers.

Organizations such as the Sarcoma Foundation of America (www.curesarcoma.org) are working to fund research towards a cure for sarcoma, while other patient-oriented organizations such as the Sarcoma Alliance (www.sarcomaalliance.com) are working to educate patients about the disease.

Types of sarcoma

• Soft tissue sarcoma, including
  • Fibrosarcoma
  • Malignant fibrous hystiocytoma
  • Dermatofibrosarcoma
  • Liposarcoma
  • Rhabdomyosarcoma
  • Leiomyosarcoma
  • Hemangiosarcoma
  • Kaposi's sarcoma
  • Lymphangiosarcoma
  • Synovial sarcoma
  • Neurofibrosarcoma
  • Extraskeletal chondrosarcoma
  • Extraskeletal osteosarcoma
• Osteosarcoma
• Chondrosarcoma

See also

Terry Fox