Symptoms and diagnosis of soft tissue sarcomas

Soft tissue sarcomas typically present as a mass (in 90% of cases), which may block an organ (urinary, digestive, or respiratory tracts), usually without pain at first, and which often grows quickly. Less frequently, the disease is suspected due to the presence of metastases (pain, swelling, general health deterioration). 
When a suspicious mass is detected, young patients are generally referred by specialized institutions to the teams at the SIREDO  Center (Care, Innovation & Research in Childhood, Adolescents, and Young-Adult Oncology) at Institut Curie. In most cases, soft tissue masses in children and adolescents are not sarcomas. 
 

Find out more about the center SIREDO

A precise diagnosis is essential. Immediate surgery without a definitive diagnosis is discouraged for suspected soft tissue tumors in children or adolescents.

The patient will undergo imaging exams: standard X-ray and ultrasound initially, and if needed, CT scan, MRI, or PET scan. Based on these results, a biopsy will be performed to collect a tissue sample under anesthesia (general for children under six, local for older patients). Pathologists will then analyze the sample. A portion is sent to the somatic genetics lab at Institut Curie for additional genetic analysis (DNA, RNA, etc.). A part of the tumor is also preserved by freezing for potential future tests.
All patient cases are discussed in multidisciplinary consultation meetings (MCM) at Institut Curie to determine the best therapeutic strategy.
 

Institut Curie’s diagnostic expertise

From imaging to molecular biology, Institut Curie has developed a fast and personalized diagnostic pathway for young patients with suspected sarcoma, called CUSTOM (Curie Sarcomas and Complex Tumors of Bones and Soft Tissues). It also has a dedicated unit for molecular analysis of sarcomas using biopsy samples, allowing for a precise diagnosis within a few days.