Fibrohistiocytic Sarcoma

Unlike other soft tissue sarcomas that can occur anywhere in your body, fibrohistiocytic sarcoma tumors are likely to form in your arms, legs, or trunk. 

The subtypes of fibrohistiocytic sarcoma include: 

• Giant Cell Tumor (GCT): Giant cell tumor is a rare tumor that usually forms near the knee joint. It has a high risk of recurrence. Sometimes, the GCT in the tendon sheath becomes aggressive and spreads to other organs from the tumor site.
• Plexiform Fibrohistiocytic Tumor: It is a slow-growing, painless skin tumor and usually involves the upper limbs. This form of fibrohistiocytic sarcoma usually affects children and young adults. Although Plexiform Fibrohistiocytic Tumor has a high recurrence rate, it rarely spreads to other body parts.
• Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma: Although the tumor site of this form of fibrohistiocytic sarcoma is uncertain, it usually affects the leg, trunk, or arm. It is more common in people over 50 years of age.

The exact cause of fibrohistiocytic sarcoma is not known yet. Like many sarcoma types, it likely arises from a combination of genetic predisposition and environmental factors. 

You may not spot visible signs of fibrohistiocytic sarcoma at its initial stage. Most often, a painless lump or swelling in your body can be the first sign of soft tissue sarcoma. 

The tumor in the affected area usually stays undetected until it is large enough to compress neighboring tissue. Thus, causing pain or swelling in the affected part of your body. 

As the tumor grows, it may cause:

• A noticeable lump or swelling.
• Pain if the growth presses on nerves or muscles.

It is important to inform your doctor about the duration and frequency of symptoms to help identify the cause of the problem.

There are no diagnostic tests for fibrohistiocytic sarcoma before the tumor becomes noticeable. Once the lump is visible in the affected area, your doctor might order the following tests to confirm the diagnosis:

• Imaging Tests: Tests like MRI and CT scans of the affected area can help determine the location and characteristics of the tumor.
• Biopsy: Your doctor may surgically extract a tissue sample from the affected region for tumor analysis.

Treatment of fibrohistiocytic sarcoma depends on where in your body the tumor is, how developed it is, and whether or not it has spread to other parts of your body. 

Your oncologist can take the following approach to treat fibrohistiocytic sarcoma.

• Surgery to remove the tumor cells from the affected area. 
• Radiation therapy to shrink the tumor or remove any cancer cells present after surgery. 
• Chemotherapy relies on strong medication to remove tumor cells from the affected area. 
• Clinical trials rely on the latest experimental treatment options that target your specific condition. 

In most cases, the treatment for fibrohistiocytic sarcoma involves a combination of two or more treatment methods. Clinical trials may be accessible in cases where the patient does not respond to the traditional treatment options.

Since fibrohistiocytic sarcoma is a rare form of soft tissue sarcoma, its treatment may require cutting-edge clinical trials. In case the tumor gets detected before spreading to other parts of your body, it can be treated with surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy.

At our office in Santa Monica, we design personalized and innovative plans for treating liposarcoma. 

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