Sarcoma Flashcards

1
Q

What is sarcoma?

A

Malignant tumour arising from cells of mesenchymal origin
Tumour of connective tissue

Very rare

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2
Q

What cells are of mesenchymal origin?

A
Bone
Cartilage
Muscle
Synovium
Adipose
Peripheral nerve sheath
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3
Q

What do you call sarcoma of adipose tissue?

A

Liposarcoma

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4
Q

What do you call sarcoma of cartilage tissue?

A

Chondrosarcoma

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5
Q

What do you call sarcoma of bone tissue?

A

Osteosarcoma

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6
Q

What do you call sarcoma of muscle tissue?

A

Myosarcoma

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7
Q

Where are sarcomas commonly found?

A

In the lower extremity, especially the thigh

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8
Q

Where can sarcomas develop?

A

Anywhere in the body where there is connective tissue, i.e. everywhere!

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9
Q

What are the risk factors for sarcoma?

A

Prevalence increases in age, but can happen at any age

Genetics: some conditions increase the risk of sarcoma

Radiation

Lymphoedema

Exposure to certain chemicals:

Infections + immunocompromised

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10
Q

Which genetic conditions increase a persons risk of sarcoma?

A

Li Fraumeni syndrome:
- causes increased risk of several types of cancer

Neurofibromatosis:
- benign tumours form in nerves under skin, increased chance of malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour

Retinoblastoma:
- childhood inherited eye cancer, 13% of these children develop sarcoma within 50 yrs

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11
Q

What is Li Fraumeni syndrome?

A

Causes increased risk of several types of cancer in families:

  • brain
  • breast
  • kidney
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12
Q

What is neurofibromatosis?

A

Formation of benign tumours in nerves just under skin

This increases the risk of developing malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumour

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13
Q

What is retinoblastoma?

A

Cancer of the retina, affects children

13% of them will get sarcoma by age 50

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14
Q

Which chemicals are linked with an increased risk of sarcoma?

A

Vinyl chloride (make plastic)
Dioxins (make pesticide)
Chlorophenols (make antiseptic)

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15
Q

Which infections are linked with the development of sarcoma?

A

Herpes virus 8 causes Kaposi’s sarcoma

Also Kaposi’s sarcoma has links to AIDS

EBV is linked with leiomyosarcoma

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16
Q

What is leiomyosarcoma?

A

Cancer of smooth muscle

17
Q

What is angiosarcoma?

A

Cancer of the inner lining of blood vessels

18
Q

How do deep sarcomas present?

A

Slow growing, enlarging mass
Painless
Pressure effects
Weight loss, malaise, rigors

19
Q

What is the proper name for cutaneous sarcoma?

A

Dermatofibrosarcoma

20
Q

How do dermatofibrosarcomas present?

A

Slow growing

Red brown nodule

21
Q

Who gets dermatofibrosarcomas ?

A

Males more often than females

Peak age about 35 years

22
Q

Metastasis is common in dermatofibrosarcoma.

True or false?

A

False

Metastasis is rare but recurrence is common

23
Q

How would you treat a dermatofibrosarcoma?

A

Wide excision!

24
Q

What is malignant fibrous histiocytoma?

A

Cancer of the histiocytes in soft tissue and bone

25
What are histiocytes?
Cells that are part of the mononuclear phagocyte system
26
What is Kaposi's sarcoma?
Cancer that arises from the blood vessels | Commonly affects limbs
27
What is Ewing's sarcoma?
A small round tumour of the bone, commonly the pelvis, femur, ribs
28
Who gets Ewing's sarcoma?
Teenagers and young adults
29
Who gets Kaposi's sarcoma?
Immunocompromised people, those with HIV/AIDs
30
When should you refer a suspected sarcoma to a specialist centre?
If it is superficial but more the 5cm If it is deep regardless of size If you are unsure
31
Investigation of a sarcoma?
Palpate: - hard or soft - fixed or moveable - pain Imaging: - angiography to check if its near blood vessels - Chest CT: sarcomas often spread to chest Biopsy: - check what type, what stage
32
Where do sarcomas commonly metastasise to?
Lung
33
Management of sarcoma?
Depends on type Surgery Chemo Radiotherapy
34
What are the potential problems with surgical excision of sarcoma?
Sarcomas are surrounded by a pseudocapsule If you disturb this, the cancer will release seeds and spread It is like breaking a pomegranate, the seeds will spread