What are Soft Tissue Tumors?
Soft tissue tumors are abnormal growths that occur in the soft tissues of the body, including muscles, fat, tendons, and ligaments. These tumors can be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous).
- Benign soft tissue tumors are typically slow-growing and do not spread to other parts of the body.
- Malignant soft tissue tumors, also known as soft tissue sarcomas, are aggressive and can metastasize to other areas.
Soft Tissue Tumor Classification
The classification of soft tissue tumors is based on the type of tissue they originate from and their cellular characteristics. The World Health Organization (WHO) classification system is widely used to categorize soft tissue tumors.
- Fibroma (fibrous tissue)
- Lipoma (fat tissue)
- Leiomyoma (smooth muscle)
- Rhabdomyoma (skeletal muscle)