Sarcoma: features and types of disease
This disease has a number of similarities with cancerous tumors:
- tumors may reappear after removal;
- possible metastases;
- Infiltrating growth can provoke the destruction of neighboring tissues.
The first difference between these two tumors isis that malignant cancerous formations can only occur in the epithelium, while sarcoma can occur in connective tissues. In addition, the latter can spread through blood vessels, while cancerous tumors can spread through lymphatic vessels. The symptoms of these diseases are also very different. Depending on where the sarcoma has formed, the precursors will be different. The type of tumor also plays a significant role. There are:
- sarcoma of bones;
- soft tissue sarcoma;
- Complex species that have not yet been classified.
Among the rest, the latter includes sarcomaKaposi's sarcoma, which is extremely rare in our country. It mainly affects mature men in equatorial Africa. Each type is divided into subtypes. For example, bone sarcoma includes osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, fibrosarcoma, lymphosarcoma, as well as round cell and Ewing's sarcoma. The same soft tissue disease can manifest itself as liposarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, angiosarcoma, synovial, neurogenic and myogenic sarcoma. Symptoms of sarcoma can be detected at early stages.
Sarcoma bones: the main symptoms
Brain sarcoma Tumors of this type can beintra- and extracerebral. Both loose and dense tumors can develop from the connective tissues of the brain membrane. If the tumor is inside, it does not have clear boundaries, so it grows very quickly and affects healthy tissue. An extracerebral tumor is considered no less aggressive, since despite its clear contours, it can grow into brain tissue and damage adjacent structures. Brain sarcoma can be diagnosed using computed tomography or ultrasound. The main symptoms are:
- headache and dizziness;
- frequent vomiting;
- impaired vision;
- epilepsy;
- signs of meningitis;
- mental disorders.
Ewing's sarcoma is a malignantThe tumor can affect the pelvis, collarbone, ribs, spine, and the lower part of the tubular bones. The tumors are aggressive and metastasize early. Common symptoms:
- pain in the lesion (often perceived as a painful sensation after trauma), which do not pass, but intensify;
- disturbance of daytime activity and sleep;
- pain during palpation;
- edema at the site of injury;
- enlarged and enlarged veins;
- heat;
- decreased appetite and general weakness.
Askin's sarcoma Malignant tumors of this type affect the bones and soft tissues of the sternum. The main symptoms are:
- spitting blood;
- pleural effusion;
- respiratory insufficiency.
Jaw sarcoma Depending on the location of the tumor, symptoms may vary. The main signs of central sarcoma:
- temporary, and then constant aching pain;
- deformation of the jaw;
- low sensitivity of the pulp in the place of injury;
- increasing shakiness of teeth;
- numbness of the lips;
- sulphurous discharge from the nose.
The main signs of peripheral sarcoma:
- noticeable deformation of the jaw;
- speech impairment;
- difficult breathing of the nose;
- limited mobility of the lower jaw;
- increased dental mobility.
Soft tissue sarcomas
Soft tissue tumors are much easierdiagnose than bone sarcomas. The whole reason is that the symptoms in the first case are more obvious. The main sign of soft tissue sarcoma is considered to be causeless night pain in the legs, especially when no painkillers help. Pericardial sarcoma The outer shell of the heart is called the pericardium, it consists of connective tissue. The main symptoms of pericardial damage:
- failure of the heart rate;
- strong swelling of the legs;
- lack of air and chest pressure;
- squeezing of the heart cavities;
- dry cough;
- weakness in the muscles.
Lung sarcoma In the early stages, this disease is asymptomatic, so it is very difficult to diagnose. Later, the following signs may appear:
- pericarditis;
- disorder swallowing act;
- syndrome of compression of the superior vena cava.
Uterine sarcoma A very rare disease thatoccurs in 3-5% of women, mostly during menopause. It is also difficult to diagnose, as the signs are not always visible. However, there are a number of characteristic symptoms:
- bloody discharge, which are not related to menstruation;
- abdominal pain;
- feeling of squeezing of neighboring organs.
Features of treatment
In most cases, sarcoma occurs suddenly, that is, without any apparent reason. However, there are a number of factors that are associated with the occurrence of this disease:
- exposure to chemical carcinogens;
- ionizing radiation;
- heredity (inclination).
Soft tissue sarcoma can be contracted at any time.age, but most often it affects people with white skin after 40 years (the average age is 50 years). This is the only pattern that doctors have found. Experts have not found out anything else significant. Malignant tumors are often treated surgically. Due to the fact that all operations allow you to save organs, the body quickly recovers. In the case when it is impossible to do a radical operation, doctors resort to radiation and chemotherapy. The effectiveness of existing treatment methods does not yet guarantee 100% recovery, and if, in addition, metastases were detected, the probability of cure is almost zero. About 20% of patients can prolong life by 5 years by radical removal of tumors and metastases. The main problem remains relapse disease. The lowest risk of relapse is observed with tumors of the lower extremities (less than 25%), and the highest - with sarcoma of the retroperitoneal space (about 75%). The patient has a high chance of recovery if:
- he is under 50 years of age;
- low malignancy of the tumor;
- painful sensations in the field of sarcoma;
- small size of the tumor;
- the location of sarcoma on the limbs;
- absence of metastases.
The sooner the patient notices the symptoms and consults a doctor, the more likely recovery is.
