A rare malady that requires early intervention

Sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that could affect one’s quality of life, if not taken care of properly. Hence, today’s Health Capsule aims to  enlighten readers on a malady that could be fatal in the case of a late diagnosis. “Sarcoma is a term used to describe a tumour/malignancy arising from soft tissue. This could be from muscle, bone or even from fat tissue” explains Dr. Himantha Atukorale, Consultant in Rheumatology and Rehabilitation and Fellow of American College of Rheumatology.

Elucidating further, Dr. Atukorale said that tumours are named depending on the site of origin. Osteosarcoma is one such example of the name given for a tumour arising from the bone. Similarly, Liposarcoma results from fat tissues and Leiomyosarcoma occurs due to a tumour from the smooth muscles. Accordingly, various types of sarcomas will require different treatment approaches.

Diagnosis and symptoms in a patient 
“The possibility of diagnosing sarcomas early is quite remote. Most patients come when they find a painless mass during routine self-examination” says Dr. Atukorale. “The mass could have gradually enlarged over a few weeks to become visible. This can also cause pain when the surrounding structures are compressed. Some of the known sites for sarcomas are the limbs, torso, head and neck” he added.

Stating that there could be instances when these tumours spread to other organs such as the lungs, he further added that this results in lung related symptoms like breathlessness or chest wall pain.

When asked if there could be a link between Sarcoma and Arthritis, Dr. Atukorale explained there is no direct link between the two. However, there is a type of sarcoma which arises from a structure called the Synovium.

“Synovium is the outer covering layer of a joint. Therefore, patients come up with joint enlargement or pain. Some sarcomas spring up from cartilage that covers the bony ends of the joint” he explained. 

Treatment and vulnerable groups
As mentioned earlier sarcomas and the treatment depend on the site of origin. Hence, there is no uniform method of treatment. “A test called tissue biopsy is done to obtain a part of the sarcoma. The biopsy is then examined at a lab to diagnose the exact sarcoma sub type” he said.

When inquired how fatal the condition could be, Dr.Atukorale stated that depending on early diagnosis, sarcomas can be treated properly. However, late presentation of a sarcoma can be fatal especially if the tumour has spread to other organs.

“People who have patients affected with cancer in their families have a slightly more likelihood of developing sarcomas. There are certain diseases like Neurofibromatosis or Gardner syndrome that increases the risk of developing a sarcoma later on. Exposure to radiation is also thought to be linked with sarcomas” he added.

Take home message 
“Sarcomas are rare tumours. An enlarging mass is the first feature and most patients meet a consultant surgeon or an orthopaedic surgeon for a complete evaluation. They might order a few tests including scans and biopsies for further clarification. If detected early sarcomas can be treated and will not affect the quality of life of patients” Dr. Atukorale advised.