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Soft Tissue Masses: Diagnosis and Surgery for Benign and Cancerous Tumors (Sarcoma)

Last updated Thursday, August 13, 2009

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Causes and effects

Causes

The cause of most soft tissue tumors is not known. Evidence suggests that some genetic disorders and mutations predispose people to benign and cancerous soft tissue tumors. Exposure to radiation has a strong association with the development of a sarcoma (cancerous growth). There are weak associations of soft tissue tumors with exposure to environmental carcinogens.

Effects

A soft tissue tumor grows, slowly or quickly, in the body, based on its etiology. Generally, soft tissue tumors grow in a round orientation, though some can grow more oval or sausage-shaped. Most such growths remain within borders of fascia tissue, though they can cross such boundaries as they grow.

They can grow around bones, muscles, blood vessels, nerves, and other structures, causing compression or change in function of those structures.

Occasionally, a sarcoma (cancerous growth) can spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body, usually the lungs.

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