L3

Question 1

General characteristics of soft tissue tumors

Answer 1

• Classified according to tissue of origin
• Present as an enlarging mass
• Majority of cases are sporadic (somatic mutation)
• Minority with germ lines mutations (inherited syndromes): NF1 or Li-Fraumeni
• Some have specific gene lesions
• Benign tumors > Sarcomas by 100 folds
• Sarcoma complex karyotype is more common than simple karyotype
• USA: Sarcoma incidence 12000/year (< 1% of all cancers)
• Malignant tumors arise de novo mainly or after recurrent “Benign” tumors

Question 2

Malignant tumors graded according to

Answer 2

differentiation, mitoses and necrosis

Question 3

Lipoma

Answer 3

Commonest of soft tissue tumors
 Most in tissue
 Single or multiple, may be familial
 No malignant transformation
 Grossly: Circumscribed yellow mass
 Histologically: Mature fatty tissue
 Many histological variants