Common Surgeries To Address Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Soft tissue sarcomas are typically treated with surgery. Surgery may be possible to remove a sarcoma depending on its location and size. The objective of soft tissue surgery Lenox Hill is to remove the whole tumor and at least 1 to 2 cm (less than an inch) of surrounding normal tissue. This is done to ensure that all cancer cells have been excised. When the extracted tissue is examined under a microscope, your doctor will look for signs of cancer on the specimen’s edges (margins).

• Limb-sparing surgery for sarcoma in the legs or arms

Doctors previously treated many sarcomas of the arms and legs by amputating the limb (amputation). This is hardly required nowadays. Instead, surgery is used to remove the tumor without amputation. This is known as limb-saving surgery. A tissue transplant or an implant may be employed to replace the lost tissue. Also, radiation treatment may be used after this. Sometimes amputation is unavoidable. It may be the only approach to eradicate the malignancy. Other times, vital nerves, muscles, bone, and blood arteries must be removed along with the malignancy. If eliminating this tissue would result in losing a functional limb or persistent discomfort, amputation may be the best alternative.

• Minimally invasive surgery for abdominal sarcoma

Some individuals with gastrointestinal stromal tumors may benefit from minimally invasive surgery such as laparoscopic or robotic surgery (GISTs). The doctor conducts the same operation as traditional surgery but with special instruments that make multiple small incisions rather than one big one.

• Plastic or reconstructive surgery for sarcoma

Plastic or reconstructive surgery may sometimes be required to fix the region where the tumor was removed. This occurs along with the sarcoma removal procedure. Plastic or reconstructive surgery is used to improve the body’s aesthetic appearance or physical function. It can also repair skin and reconnect nerves and blood vessels, allowing you to return to looking and moving normally. The type of surgery you require determines where the sarcoma is located in your body and how much tissue your surgeon must remove.

An overview of soft tissue sarcoma in adults

Soft tissue sarcoma refers to a collection of uncommon malignancies that all have one thing in common: they all attack your muscles, tendons, fat, lymph and blood arteries, and nerves. Adult soft tissue sarcomas often develop in the arms, legs, chest, and stomach. Early detection and treatment of soft tissue sarcoma, like many other kinds of cancer, increases the probability of long-term survival. When cancer is discovered and treated before it spreads, the survival rate rises to 81%.

What to expect if you have soft tissue sarcoma

Your therapy will differ depending on what your doctors know about your cancer. Early-stage soft tissue sarcomas can occasionally be treated with surgery alone. Other times, your soft tissue sarcoma may necessitate chemotherapy or radiation therapy, which might take weeks or months to complete. After completing your treatment, you will most likely continue seeing your healthcare practitioner for the following few years.

Soft tissue sarcoma surgery entails removing the tumor and some surrounding healthy tissue to guarantee that the malignancy has been removed. Call Lenox Hill Surgeons, LLP, or book your consultation online to determine which surgery for soft tissue sarcoma is right for you.