Sarcomas are sub-classified based upon the specific type of cell that makes up the cancer. Some of the most common subtypes of sarcoma are listed below. Liposarcomas are malignant tumors which develop from fat tissue. Leiomyosarcomas are malignant tumors which develop from smooth muscle tissue. They can arise anywhere in the body but the uterus or gastrointestinal tract are two relatively common locations for leiomyosarcoma.
Rhabdomyosarcoma are malignant tumors which resemble developing skeletal muscle.
These tumors most commonly grow in the arms or legs, but can also develop in the head or neck area, as well as the urinary and reproductive organs. Synovial Sarcoma is a malignant tumor made up of cells which resemble the cells in joints. However, synovial sarcoma does not necessarily arise in any joint, and the name is probably a misnomer, since the cancer cells are probably quite different from normal joint cells. Synovial sarcomas can arise in any location in the body, and it often appears in young adults. Angiosarcoma are malignant tumors that resemble blood or lymphatic vessels.