ABSTRACT
So«-tissue sarcomas originate in the connective tissue of organs throughout the human body. Many histologies comprise the category of so«-tissue sarcoma. Ÿe natural history of the disease unites the various histology categories and anatomic locations. So«-tissue sarcomas are commonly present as enlarging, painless masses. Ÿey most commonly develop in the extremities, followed by the trunk, retroperitoneum, and head and neck (O’Sullivan et al. 2007). Symptoms that develop are related to the anatomic site in which the sarcoma arises. So«-tissue sarcomas develop locally within the con£nes of fascial planes and other natural anatomic barriers like bone. A pseudocapsule of normal tissue and reactive £brosis appears to envelop the tumor. However, satellite tumor cells can spread beyond this false barrier (Enneking, Spanier, and Malawer 1981). Ÿis scattered extension around the primary tumor mandates that the extent of radiation and surgical margins encompass these areas of potential subclinical disease.
