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Spindle cell sarcoma is a rare type of cancer that usually grows in the long bones of the arms and legs, or in the pelvis. It gets its name from how the cells look under a microscope. They are long and narrow with ends that come to a point, shaped like a spindle (an instrument that’s used for spinning wool).
While spindle cell sarcoma can affect people of all ages, it is most common in adults over 40. There are several different types, such as fibrosarcoma and leiomyosarcoma, which are named based on the kind of cells where the cancer first started growing.
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Symptoms and Signs
Because spindle cell sarcoma grows in the bone, the most common sign is bone pain that either stays all the time or comes and goes. If you have spindle cell sarcoma, you might also notice a lump, swelling or soreness in the area where the tumor is located.
Because this disease can make the bone weak, some people find out they have it when they break a bone very easily from a small injury. Other signs of spindle cell sarcoma include feeling very tired, having trouble moving a joint that is near a tumor or just feeling generally unwell without knowing why.
Causes and Risk Factors
Scientists are still learning exactly why this cancer starts, but they know it happens when healthy cells grow out of control. Spindle cells are usually helpful because they appear naturally to help your body heal from an injury. However, they are supposed to stop once the healing is finished. In spindle cell sarcoma, they do not stop growing.
Certain factors can increase your risk of having this disease, such as having Paget’s disease of the bone, having radiation in the past for a different type of cancer or a certain rare bone disorder. Sometimes, spindle cell sarcoma can be linked to genetic changes passed down through families.
Spindle Cell Sarcoma Care Team
At Fred Hutch, we offer comprehensive treatment from a team of experts who specialize in soft tissue sarcomas and bone cancers.
Learn more about sarcoma specialists at Fred Hutch.
Diagnosing Spindle Cell Sarcoma
It can be hard to find spindle cell sarcoma early because its symptoms can look like other common health problems. A physician usually uses several different tools to find and assess the tumor, starting with X-rays to look for abnormal bone growth. They may also use an MRI to see soft tissues in detail or a CT scan to create a 3D picture of the inside of the body. To be certain about the diagnosis, a biopsy is needed. This is when a tiny sample of the tumor is removed and send to a lab for testing. This information allows a physician to grade the tumor, stage the disease and give a diagnosis.
Learn more about diagnosing and staging sarcoma.
Treating Spindle Cell Sarcoma
Treatment is usually done in steps and depends on the size and location of the tumor. Most patients start with chemotherapy, which is used to shrink the tumor and kill cancer cells that may have spread to other parts of the body. After chemotherapy, surgery is performed to remove the tumor. Finally, radiation therapy may be used to destroy any cancer cells that may have been left behind and to help prevent the cancer from returning.
Learn more about treating sarcoma.