Sarcoma

In 2024, about 13,590 people (7,700 men and 5,890 women) will be diagnosed with soft tissue sarcomas in the United States. These statistics include both adults and children.

The most common types of sarcoma in adults are: undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (previously called malignant fibrous histiocytoma, liposarcoma or leiomyosarcoma.

Certain types occur more often in certain parts of the body more often than others. For example, leiomyosarcomas are the most common type of sarcoma found in the abdomen (belly), while liposarcomas and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas are most common in legs. But pathologists (doctors who specialize in diagnosing cancers by how they look under the microscope), may not always agree on the exact type of sarcoma. Sarcomas of uncertain type are very common.

When the sarcoma starts in an arm or a leg, the 5-year survival rates are slightly higher for each stage when compared with sarcoma that starts in other locations.

Source of information: www.cancer.net