Soft-tissue sarcomas are rare tumors that challenge the diagnostic and therapeutic skills of surgeons and other physicians. These tumors require a multidisciplinary approach for optimal management.<sup>51 Pollock R.E. , et al. The National Cancer Data Base report on soft tissue sarcoma Cancer 1996 ;  78 : 2247-2257  [cross-ref]

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Soft-tissue sarcomas are tumors of mesenchymal origin, including muscle, endothelium, cartilage, and supporting elements and excluding the reticuloendothelial system and the blood elements. By convention, soft-tissue sarcomas also include tumors of the peripheral nerves. Although the incidence of benign soft-tissue tumors (e.g., lipomas) is extremely high, the incidence of malignant sarcomas is low, 1.5 per 100,000 population, or approximately 8000 new cases per year in the United States (compared with 50 to 100 new cases of breast cancer per 100,000 population per year).

Soft-tissue sarcomas are classified according to which mesenchymal tissue they most closely resemble histologically. More than 30 different histologic subtypes of soft-tissue sarcoma exist and are distinguished by classification schemes; the following is a partial list:

Soft-tissue sarcomas can arise virtually anywhere in the body, including the viscera, genitourinary system, breasts, and vascular system. Table 1 lists the sites of origin of soft-tissue sarcomas that were treated at Barnes-Jewish Hospital in St. Louis, Missouri, between 1992 and 1996. The most common site for these tumors is the lower extremity.