We are independent & ad-supported. We may earn a commission for purchases made through our links.
Advertiser Disclosure
Our website is an independent, advertising-supported platform. We provide our content free of charge to our readers, and to keep it that way, we rely on revenue generated through advertisements and affiliate partnerships. This means that when you click on certain links on our site and make a purchase, we may earn a commission. Learn more.
How We Make Money
We sustain our operations through affiliate commissions and advertising. If you click on an affiliate link and make a purchase, we may receive a commission from the merchant at no additional cost to you. We also display advertisements on our website, which help generate revenue to support our work and keep our content free for readers. Our editorial team operates independently of our advertising and affiliate partnerships to ensure that our content remains unbiased and focused on providing you with the best information and recommendations based on thorough research and honest evaluations. To remain transparent, we’ve provided a list of our current affiliate partners here.
Health

Our Promise to you

Founded in 2002, our company has been a trusted resource for readers seeking informative and engaging content. Our dedication to quality remains unwavering—and will never change. We follow a strict editorial policy, ensuring that our content is authored by highly qualified professionals and edited by subject matter experts. This guarantees that everything we publish is objective, accurate, and trustworthy.

Over the years, we've refined our approach to cover a wide range of topics, providing readers with reliable and practical advice to enhance their knowledge and skills. That's why millions of readers turn to us each year. Join us in celebrating the joy of learning, guided by standards you can trust.

What is an Alveolar Soft Part Sarcoma?

By Eric Stolze
Updated: May 17, 2024
Views: 2,188
Share

An alveolar soft part sarcoma, or ASPS, is a cancerous tumor that develops in the body’s soft connective tissues. Muscles, tendons and joints are some of the types of soft tissue that can be affected by this type of cancer. Other soft tissues that may develop ASPS tumors include fat tissue, nerves and blood vessels. Most cases of this type of cancer occur in the legs, although it has developed less commonly in the neck and head.

Patients with alveolar soft part sarcoma often have a lump of soft tissue that is painless. Individuals with this condition may experience pain from muscle or nerve tissue that is compressed by a tumor. ASPS patients tend to limp while walking, and they can have other problems with their legs and feet. The range of motion generally becomes diminished in areas of soft tissue affected by this type of cancer.

Physicians often use one or more imaging tests to help them diagnose alveolar soft part sarcoma. X-rays may not provide detailed images of a soft tissue tumor, and some patients undergo tests such as a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) test or a computerized tomography (CT) scan that are more likely to provide images that doctors can use. Blood tests, a thorough physical examination and a complete medical history are often used by physicians as they diagnose this form of cancer. A biopsy may be performed to remove part of a suspected tumor so that laboratory tests can look for cancer cells.

Cancer specialists typically evaluate the degree of metastasis of alveolar soft part sarcoma. Tumors that have metastasized have spread beyond their original location to other parts of a patient’s body. Some metastasized tumors can spread to the brain or lungs. Patients with localized tumors that have not spread to other parts of the body typically have a higher likelihood of successful treatment than those with metastasized tumors.

In many cases, doctors recommend surgical removal of an alveolar soft part sarcoma along with portions of surrounding tissue. Surgeons may be able to spare limbs affected by this form of cancer in some cases. Advanced forms of the disease are more likely to be treated with amputation of an affected limb. Cancer surgery may be followed with radiation therapy to kill any remaining cancer cells that were not removed during surgery.

Physicians and researchers are studying other forms of cancer treatment for patients with alveolar soft part sarcoma. Chemotherapy uses special drugs that typically target and kill cancer tumor cells. Biological therapies use substances that trigger the body’s immune system to fight more effectively against cancer tumors in many cases. Angiogenesis inhibitors are medications that usually block blood vessel development in tumors and restrict tumor growth.

Share
WiseGeek is dedicated to providing accurate and trustworthy information. We carefully select reputable sources and employ a rigorous fact-checking process to maintain the highest standards. To learn more about our commitment to accuracy, read our editorial process.

Editors' Picks

Discussion Comments
Share
https://www.wisegeek.net/what-is-an-alveolar-soft-part-sarcoma.htm
Copy this link
WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.

WiseGeek, in your inbox

Our latest articles, guides, and more, delivered daily.