Fibroblastic/Myofibroblastic Sarcoma

Fibroblastic/myofibroblastic sarcoma is a type of soft tissue sarcoma that begins due to the formation of abnormal mass in fibrous tissue. Fibrous tissues are present throughout the body to hold your body’s bones, muscles, and organs in place. This type of sarcoma can be benign or malignant (where the tumor spreads to other parts of your body).

Fibroblastic/myofibroblastic sarcoma affects people of all ages. The treatment options depend on the:

Location of the tumor
Growth pattern of the tumor
Adjacent soft-tissue involvement
Nature of the tumor (whether it is benign or malignant)

At Sarcoma Oncology Center, we provide personalized fibroblastic/myofibroblastic sarcoma treatment. Our center also specializes in offering clinical trials to patients when traditional treatments are ineffective.

Understanding Fibroblastic/Myofibroblastic Sarcoma

Fibroblastic/myofibroblastic sarcoma is a rare soft tissue sarcoma that can affect almost every organ. However, it is particularly common in the head and neck. It can either be a low-grade sarcoma or a high-grade sarcoma.

Low-grade sarcoma grows slowly and is less likely to spread to other parts of the body.

High-grade sarcoma grows at faster rates compared to low-grade tumors and can spread to other parts of your body.

Subtypes of Fibroblastic/Myofibroblastic Sarcoma

Fibrosarcoma: This subtype is more likely to develop in soft tissues than in bones. When it originates in the bones, a tumor will more commonly affect your legs, arms, and jaw and can spread to the lungs.
Myxofibrosarcoma: Myxofibrosarcoma is one of the more common sarcomas and may originate in the head and neck region. It is typically seen in elderly patients.
Fibromatosis (Desmoid Tumors): This subtype appears as a lump or mass, sometimes after an injury or surgery. Fibromatosis most often occurs in your abdomen, arms, and legs.
Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma (MFH): Malignant fibrous histiocytoma most often forms in soft tissue (connective tissues, such as ligaments, tendons, fat, and muscle) but can also occur in the bones. When MFH occurs in bones, it usually affects the legs or arms. It typically grows at the tumor site but can spread to distant parts of the body.
Dermatofibrosarcoma: This subtype of sarcoma typically occurs in the skin. It might look like a pimple or rough patch at first. As it grows, lumps or swelling may form near the surface of the skin.
Solitary Fibrous Tumor: Solitary fibrous tumor is a rare sarcoma seen in older adults. It can form in the chest cavity, orbital cavity (which contains the eye), covering of the brain, or pelvic area. It has both less aggressive and more aggressive types.
Sclerosing Epithelioid Fibrosarcoma: This subtype is a rare soft tissue tumor that often occurs in young adults.

Causes & Symptoms of Fibroblastic/Myofibroblastic Sarcoma

Fibroblastic/myofibroblastic sarcoma likely arises from a genetic predisposition and environmental factors. However, the exact cause is not yet known.

Fibroblastic/myofibroblastic sarcoma symptoms include a painless lump or swelling in the soft tissues.

The tumor can grow and put pressure on nearby organs, muscles, or blood vessels, causing pain or labored breathing if left untreated.

Diagnosis of Fibroblastic/Myofibroblastic Sarcoma

Your doctor might order the following tests for the diagnosis of fibroblastic/myofibroblastic sarcoma:

Imaging Tests: Your doctor may ask for an MRI and CT scan of the affected area to help determine the location and characteristics of the tumor.
Biopsy: This test involves surgically extracting a tissue sample from the affected region for tumor analysis in the lab.
Molecular Diagnostics: This technique studies tissue or fluid samples from the tumor to study it at a cellular level and consider its proteins, DNA, and RNA.

Treatment of Fibroblastic/Myofibroblastic Sarcoma

Treatment for fibroblastic/myofibroblastic sarcoma may depend on the stage of a tumor, any prior cancer care, biopsy analysis, and other individualized factors.

Your oncologist can take the following approach to treat fibroblastic/myofibroblastic sarcoma.

Surgery: Your doctor might perform surgery to remove the tumor cells from the affected area. However, if your fibroblastic/myofibroblastic sarcoma is near any vital organs, removing the entire tumor may not be possible.
Radiation Therapy: Radiation is performed to shrink the tumor or remove any cancer cells left behind after surgery.
Chemotherapy: This treatment method uses strong medication to remove tumor cells from the affected area. Chemotherapy can be extremely effective in cases where the tumor cannot be removed by surgery or has spread from the original location to other parts.
Clinical Trials: Clinical trials rely on the latest experimental treatment options to treat sarcoma. You may consider clinical trials or more cutting-edge treatments when traditional treatments are not effective.

Fibroblastic/Myofibroblastic Sarcoma Treatment at Sarcoma Oncology Center

Fibroblastic/myofibroblastic sarcoma is a rare sarcoma that can affect any part of your body. Treatment may often involve a combination of traditional treatments and clinical trials.

At our office in Santa Monica, we design personalized and innovative plans for treating fibroblastic/myofibroblastic sarcoma.

To schedule a consultation, please call us at 310-552-9999 or request an appointment online.