Tumors in the soft tissue are more common than bone tumors, and they can occur almost anywhere.

There are many types of soft tissue tumors.

  • Benign soft tissue tumors are not cancerous. These tumors can’t spread to other parts of the body.
  • Intermediate soft tissue tumors behave in ways between a cancer and non-cancer. These tumors may grow and invade nearby tissue and organs, but they don’t tend to spread to other parts of the body.
  • Soft tissue sarcomas are cancerous (malignant). They can develop in soft tissues like fat, muscle, nerves, fibrous tissues, blood vessels, or deep skin tissues. They can be found in any part of the body.

The most common type of soft tissue cancer in children is Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS or “rhabdo”). Cells from rhabdomyosarcomas are often fast growing and can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body. Treatments usually include chemotherapy, surgery and radiation.

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What are the signs and symptoms of soft tissue tumors?

Symptoms of benign soft tissue tumors vary. If a tumor is close to the surface of the body, a lump may appear. Some tumors cause pain while others don’t.

Soft tissue sarcomas may not cause any symptoms at first. As the tumor grows it may cause a noticeable lump or swelling. If it presses on nerves or muscles it could cause pain.

What causes soft tissue tumors?

Doctors don’t know exactly what causes soft tissue tumors. They’re sometimes linked to the following:

  • Inherited (genetic) syndromes including hereditary retinoblastoma, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, familial adenomatous polyposis, neurofibromatosis, tuberous sclerosis and Werner syndrome
  • Coming into contact with certain chemicals such as herbicides, arsenic and dioxin
  • Radiation exposure for treatment for other cancers

How are soft tissue tumors treated?

Doctors at Connecticut Children’s can determine the right plan if your child requires treatment for a soft tissue tumor.

Benign (noncancerous) tumors are not dangerous and often don’t require more than watching. When necessary, they can be removed through a surgical procedure to help protect surrounding normal blood vessels, nerves, muscle or bone.

Treatment for malignant soft tissue tumors depends on the type of cancer and how far it has progressed. If the cancer is limited to one area and hasn’t spread, the tumor may be removed through surgery. Other common treatments include chemotherapy, which kills cancer cells throughout the body, and radiation therapy, which kills cancer cells in a specific area of the body. Treatment for malignant soft tissue tumors also includes extensive family and child support from our team at Connecticut Children’s