Sarcoma

Your healthcare provider will begin with a thorough history and physical examination. They may perform special tests on a tissue sample obtained from a biopsy to diagnose the exact type of sarcoma you have.

They may use any of the following tests when making a diagnosis:

• X-ray: X-rays use small amounts of radiation to take pictures of bones and soft tissues inside your body.
• Computed tomography (CT) scan: A CT scan uses computers to combine many X-ray images into cross-sectional views of the inside of your body.
• Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): An MRI uses large magnets, radio waves and a computer to create clear images of the inside of your body. Your provider may order an MRI to see more detailed pictures if an X-ray shows something abnormal.
• Bone scan: During a bone scan, your provider will inject a small amount of radioactive material into your body to identify bone disorders, such as bone sarcoma.
• PET scan: A PET scan uses a special glucose tracer that clings to cells using high amounts of glucose, like cancer cells. A PET scan shows parts of your body where glucose levels are unusually high, suggesting a tumor.
• Biopsy: During a biopsy, your provider removes tissue from your tumor and sends the sample to a lab. A specialist called a pathologist analyzes the tissue under a microscope to see if it’s a sarcoma. This analysis helps your provider understand what type of sarcoma you have and what treatments may work best.

What are the stages of sarcoma?

Cancer staging is used to better understand how serious a sarcoma is and what treatments may work best. Providers classify most sarcoma based on the TNM classification system:

• T: Describes the size and location of the primary tumor.
• N: Describes whether the cancer has spread to nearby lymph nodes.
• M: Describes whether the cancer has spread to other organs (metastasized).

Your provider may also determine what grade (G) your cancer is. The grade provides information on the appearance of the cancer cells, including how much they resemble normal cells. Generally, the more normal the cancer cells appear, the better your prognosis.

Providers use this information to stage your sarcoma. They assign a number (1 through 4) to your stage. The higher the number, the more the cancer has grown locally or spread throughout your body.

There are different staging criteria for different types of sarcoma. Ask your provider about your cancer stage, including what this means for your treatment and prognosis.