Fibrosarcoma

Also known as: fibroblastic sarcoma, soft tissue sarcoma.

What is fibrosarcoma?

Fibrosarcoma is a rare form of soft tissue cancer (spreads to surrounding tissues) that occurs in infants (less than 1 year) and children 10-15 years of age, that starts in the fibrous tissue (like scar tissue), of the body (almost anywhere: trunk, head, abdomen) but most commonly in the tendons (bands of fiber) at the ends of the limbs (arms and leg bones).

What causes fibrosarcoma?

The cause of fibrosarcoma is not entirely clear. It may be related to a genetic alteration, or in some children a chromosomal rearrangement.

What are the symptoms of fibrosarcoma?

Symptoms vary and depend on the location, size and spread of cancer. Common symptoms include a tender or non painful lump in an arm/ leg or on the trunk, or difficulty walking or using arms and hands.

With organ involvement, symptoms will reflect the particular organ abnormality (for example, in the lungs presents with difficulty breathing, etc.).

What are fibrosarcoma care options?

Treatment depends on a variety of factors (like your child's age, how widely the tumor has spread and others factors) and may involve surgery to remove the cancerous tumor, and/ or chemotherapy and radiation therapy.

Reviewed by: Jack Wolfsdorf, MD, FAAP

This page was last updated on: June 17, 2022 04:21 PM