Soft Tissue Sarcoma .The Experience at JOS University Teaching Hospital. JOS Nigeria

Abstract

Soft tissue sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of tumours with a wide variety of presentation. These tumours can present a challenge in management, ranging from diagnosi ,to treatment and rehabilitation. They often require a multimodal and multidisciplinary approach in their management. This study was aimed at determining the nature of presentation of these tumours in our hospital and elucidating the most common varieties, the anatomical regions involved, as well as the age and sex patterns of these tumours. This was a retrospective study carried out at the Jos university teaching hospital, covering a period of ten years, 2000 to 2009. Data was obtained from the cancer registry and case notes of patients diagnosed histologically. 108 patients were diagnosed to have soft tissue sarcoma. The age range was 3 to 85 years with a mean age of occurrence was 31.1years +/- 18.4 years. Rhabdomyosarcomabeing the commonest variety(65.7%) fibrosarcoma26 (24.1%), liposarcoma 6(5.6%), dermatofibrosarcoma 4(3.7%), and angiosarcoma the least occurring(0.9%). The anatomical sites involved were, thighs 32 (29.6%) , head and neck 16 (14.8%) , arms 10 (9.3%) , buttocks 11 (10.2%) , legs 11 (10.2%) , abdomen 9 (8.3%) , chest 7 (6.5%) , back 5 (4.6%) ,forearm 5(4.6%) and retroperitonuem2 (1.9%). Rhabdomyosarcoma made up two thirds of the soft tissue sarcomas found and the thighs were the commonest site of involvement.