overview
Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) is a rare type of cancer that begins primarily in the soft tissues of the body. Soft tissues connect, support and surround other body structures.
UPS typically occurs in the arms or legs. More rarely, it can occur in the area behind the abdominal organs (retroperitoneum).
The name of an undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma comes from the way cancer cells appear under a microscope. Undifferentiated means that the cells do not look like the body tissue in which they develop. Cancer is known as pleomorphic (plee-o-MOR-fik) because cells grow in many shapes and sizes.
Treatment for UPS depends on where the cancer is, but often includes surgery, radiation therapy, and drug therapy.
UPS was once called a malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma Treatment in Hyderabad
symptoms
The undifferentiated symptoms of pleomorphic sarcoma depend on where the cancer occurs. It is most common in the arms and legs, but can appear anywhere in the body. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma Treatment in Hyderabad
Signs and symptoms can include:
- Growing mass or area of swelling
- If it gets very large, it may cause pain, tingling, and numbness
- If it occurs in an arm or leg, there may be swelling of the hand or foot of an affected limb
- If it occurs in the abdomen, it can cause pain, loss of appetite, and constipation
- fever
- Weight loss
The reasons
It is not known what causes undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma.
Doctors know that this cancer starts when a cell develops changes in its DNA. A cell’s DNA contains the instructions that tell a cell what to do. The changes cause the cell to multiply quickly and create a mass of abnormal cells (tumor). The cells can invade nearby healthy tissue and destroy it. Over time, cancer cells can break off and spread (metastasize) to other parts of the body such as the lungs and bones.
Risk factors
Factors that can increase your risk of undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma include:
- Older age. This cancer tends to occur in adults over 50, although it can appear at any age.
- Previous radiation therapy. In rare cases, this cancer can develop in an area of the body that was previously treated with radiation therapy.
- Most people who develop undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma have no known risk factors, and many people with risk factors never develop cancer. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma Treatment in Hyderabad