- Soft tissue masses are very common and have an exceptionally large number of potential etiologies.
- The World Health Organization recognizes nine different categories of soft tissue tumors.
- Within each category, these tumors are further separated into benign, intermediate (locally aggressive), and malignant types.
- The categories are as follows.
- • Adipocytic tumors
- • Fibroblastic/myofibroblastic tumors
- • So-called fibrohistiocytic tumors
- • Smooth muscle tumors
- • Pericytic (perivascular) tumors
- • Skeletal muscle tumors
- • Vascular tumors
- • Chondroosseous tumors
- Tumors of uncertain differentiation Malignant soft tissue tumors (sarcomas) are relatively uncommon, representing less than 1% of all malignancies.
- Soft tissue sarcomas are associated with a high mortality rate.
- There are over 50 different soft tissue sarcoma subtypes as defined by the World Health Organization.
- The most common soft tissue sarcomas in adults are liposarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma.
- The World Health Organization classifies neurogenic tumors and skin and appendage tumors separately from soft tissue tumors.
- In addition to the very large number of neoplastic causes of soft tissue masses, many soft tissue masses are nonneoplastic.
- These tumor-like entities are reviewed in the soft tissue tumor mimics chapters.
- The tumor mimics chapters are separated into infection/inflammation, vascular, crystal disease, and other causes.
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