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Sarcoma of the leg

 
, medical expert
Last reviewed: 08.07.2025
 
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Leg sarcoma is a common malignant lesion of non-epithelial origin. About 70% of sarcomas that occur on the extremities affect the legs.

The neoplasm is characterized by slow growth and asymptomatic development over a long period of time. Leg sarcoma is diagnosed using biopsy and palpation; in some cases, the disease can be detected visually at early stages of development.

Treatment of leg sarcoma is surgical. Survival depends on the size of the tumor, the patient's age, the stage of the disease and the presence of metastases. Most often, metastases penetrate into the abdominal cavity. As a rule, the limbs can be saved during treatment, and the prognosis for recovery is favorable.

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Sarcoma of the hip bone

Sarcoma of the hip bone is a common disease that affects men more than women. The tumor occurs in patients of all ages and is highly malignant. Sarcoma progresses quickly and metastasizes to other organs early. At the initial stage of the disease, sarcoma is very difficult to diagnose. The main symptoms of the tumor are a short-term increase in temperature. But the pain quickly increases, causing discomfort during movement.

The tumor grows quickly, and if it is close to the surface of the skin, a small protrusion can be noticed under the skin. This happens because the skin becomes thinner and a vascular pattern appears on it. As the tumor increases in size, it gradually displaces and compresses the surrounding organs, disrupting their functions, and compresses the vessels. Depending on which nerve trunks are affected by hip sarcoma, pain can occur not only at the site of the tumor, but also radiate to the genitals, thigh, and neighboring organs and parts of the body.

With hip bone sarcoma, painful contractures develop in the joint, and its mobility is impaired. Further development of sarcoma causes severe pain during palpation. The patient experiences severe pain at night, while analgesics do not help to cope with the pain. Sarcomas of this kind metastasize extensively with the bloodstream, penetrating the lungs, brain and other organs. Treatment of hip sarcoma involves surgery and chemotherapy.

Sarcoma of the hip

Hip sarcoma is a malignant neoplasm that can be primary and secondary. That is, sarcoma can arise due to metastases from tissues of other lesions or act as an independent disease. Most often, hip sarcoma is caused by metastases from the genitourinary system, organs of the pelvic cavity or the sacrococcygeal spine. Very often, a tumor in the hip is Ewing's sarcoma (soft tissue lesions) or osteogenic sarcoma (bone lesions).

This disease is diagnosed very often. The knee and hip joints are involved in the pathological process, quickly spreading to the surrounding soft tissues. The growing sarcoma compresses the blood vessels of the leg, causing damage to the arterial bed. Because of this, the patient may complain of pallor and a feeling of cold in the extremities. Later, these symptoms change to trophic disorders and ulcers. When squeezing and palpating, venous blood stagnation and massive edema of the lower extremities occur.

The main symptoms of the disease are: short-term increase in body temperature, loss of appetite and body weight, rapid fatigue, weakness and lethargy. Treatment of hip sarcoma involves chemotherapy and radiation therapy, in rare cases, they resort to surgical intervention.

Sarcoma of the leg

Shin sarcoma is a malignant neoplasm affecting soft tissues or having a non-epithelial nature. Let's consider in more detail each of the variants of shin sarcoma.

Osteogenic sarcoma of the leg

The malignant neoplasm is a non-epithelial bone tumor. The location of the sarcoma is of great importance in diagnosis. If the neoplasm is located on the back of the shin, it can be hidden for a long time under the massive gastrocnemius muscle. If the sarcoma occurs on the front surface of the shin, its growth and progression are easily diagnosed, since the skin over the tumor changes color and stretches.

Sarcoma of the leg often affects the tibia and fibula. The neoplasm can grow and destroy the connecting membranes between the bones, causing frequent fractures. Osteogenic sarcoma of the leg does not have a pain syndrome in the initial stages of development. Painful sensations appear only when the tumor grows and compresses nearby vessels and nerves. This causes pain in the toes, swelling, pain in the foot, trophic disorders of the skin below the localization of the sarcoma.

Soft tissue sarcoma of the leg

Soft tissue sarcoma of the shin can be superficial and deep. Superficial sarcoma can be diagnosed at the early stages of development, but with deep localization of the tumor, the patient can complain of pulling and bursting pain in the shin for a long time.

Sarcoma has its own symptoms, which increase as the disease progresses. The main symptoms of shin sarcoma are: anemia, causeless weakness, nausea, sudden weight loss, and increased body temperature. As it progresses, the tumor begins to compress and displace the nerves and vessels located in the foot. This causes swelling of the foot, trophic ulcers, sensory disturbances, and impaired movement of the toes.

Foot sarcoma

Foot sarcoma is a malignant neoplasm that can affect soft tissues or be osteogenic. Let's look at both types of foot sarcoma.

Osteogenic sarcoma of the foot

A malignant tumor of bone origin, localized in the foot and quickly manifests itself visually. Early diagnosis of sarcoma is explained by the fact that a large tumor in the foot cannot remain untreated and has nowhere to grow. Clinical manifestations of the disease are pain syndrome, disorders and changes in bone anatomy and surrounding tissues.

In some cases, sarcoma can affect not only the bones, but also the cartilaginous surfaces of the ankle joint. Because of this, the patient experiences limitations in movement and pain. Due to the anatomical proximity of ligaments, nerves and vessels to the bones of the foot, osteogenic sarcoma quickly grows and causes damage to soft tissues.

Soft tissue sarcoma of the foot

The disease is quickly diagnosed, as the tumor is visible visually. Frequent hemorrhages occur above the tumor localization site, which leads to a change in skin color and the appearance of trophic ulcers. Pain symptoms occur early, causing disturbances in the supporting functions of the foot and completely depriving the ability to move.

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