Title: Soft tissue sarcoma in cats and dogs

{{Short description|Group of malignant tumors in cats and dogs}}
'''[[Soft tissue sarcoma]]''' refers to a broad group of [[tumors]] that originate from connective tissues. They tend to have similar [[histologic]] appearance and biological behavior, and can be either [[benign]] or [[malignant]]. Soft tissue sarcomas can arise in any part of the pet's body but skin and subcutaneous tumors are the most commonly observed. Soft-tissue sarcomas comprise approximately 15% of all skin and subcutaneous tumors in dogs and approximately 7% of all skin and subcutaneous [[neoplasm|tumors]] in [[cat]]s.&lt;ref name=MacEwan_2001&gt;{{cite book|veditors=Withrow SJ, MacEwen EG |title=Small Animal Clinical Oncology|edition=3rd|publisher=W.B. Saunders Company |year=2001}}&lt;/ref&gt; 
The variety of different tumors that fall under the category of soft tissue sarcomas includes [[fibrosarcoma]], [[hemangiopericytoma]], [[liposarcoma]], [[rhabdomyosarcoma]], [[leiomyosarcoma]], malignant fibrous [[histiocytoma]], [[Malignant nerve sheath tumor|malignant nerve sheath tumors]], [[myxosarcoma]], [[myxofibrosarcoma]], mesenchymoma, and spindle cell tumor.

==Signs and symptoms==
Soft tissue sarcomas are often detected as a firm mass located on the trunk, limbs, or oral cavity. The symptoms depend on the tumor's location and degree of invasion. For example, tumors in the [[gastrointestinal tract]] may cause vomiting, [[diarrhea]], or weight loss. Tumors in the mouth may cause [[bad breath]], difficulty swallowing, or lack of appetite. Tumors arising in the [[peripheral nerves]] may cause pain, [[lameness]], or neurological symptoms.

==Diagnosis==
Prior to initiating any type of treatment, it is important to gather as much information as possible regarding the tumor's [[Tissue (biology)|tissue]] origin, size, site, [[histologic grade]] (level of aggressiveness) and whether it has spread to other organs.
To definitively confirm the diagnosis of a soft-tissue sarcoma, the [[veterinarian]] will have to perform [[biopsy]] for [[histopathologic evaluation]]. Additional tests are performed in order to evaluate how advanced the cancer is. These tests generally involve blood and serum biochemical tests, chest [[X-rays]] to check for [[metastasis]] to the lungs and imaging studies [e.g. [[ultrasound]], [[computed tomography]] (CT) or [[magnetic resonance imaging]] (MRI)] to evaluate the extent of the disease.

==Treatment==
There are three main treatment options available to treat soft tissue sarcoma in cats and dogs: [[surgery]], [[radiation therapy]], and [[chemotherapy]]. Surgery alone or in combination with radiation therapy are used to treat the tumor at its original location, and chemotherapy is usually used to prevent or at least slow down the process of [[metastasis]] in pets diagnosed with tumor subtypes known to be highly aggressive.&lt;ref&gt;{{cite journal |author=Ehrhar, N |title=Soft-Tissue Sarcomas in Dogs: A Review |journal=J Am Anim Hosp A |volume=41 |pages=241–6 |year=2005 |pmid=15995161 |issue=4}}&lt;/ref&gt;

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://www.petcancercenter.org/Cancer_Types_soft_tissue_sarcoma.html ''Soft Tissue Sarcoma in Cats and Dogs'' from Pet Cancer Center]
*[http://www.caninecare.us/&quot;Treatment and Prevention of Canine Cancer&quot; from CanineCare.US]
*[http://www.merckvetmanual.com/mvm/index.jsp?cfile=htm/bc/72217.htm&amp;word=soft%2ctissue%2csarcoma ''Soft Tissue Sarcomas'' from The Merck Veterinary Manual]
*[http://veterinarycancer.com/softtissuesarcoma.html''Soft Tissue Sarcomas'' from Animal Cancer &amp; Imaging Center]

[[Category:Cancer in dogs]]
[[Category:Cancer in cats]]