Histopathological Study of Soft Tissue Tumours (Three Years Study)

Background Soft tissue tumors are defined as mesenchymal proliferations which occur in the extraskeletal non-epithelial tissues of the body, excluding the viscera, coverings of brain and lymphoreticular system. The main objective of this study was to study the histopathological features of soft tissue tumors and to study the occurrence of soft tissue tumors in relation to age, sex and anatomical site. Methodology & Results This study comprised a period of 3 years from September 2004 to August 2007. Soft tissue tumors accounted for 1.65 % of all surgical specimens and 9.64 % of all tumors received in our Department. In this study a total of 137 cases of soft tissue tumors were studied. There were 113 benign soft tissue tumors (82.48 %) and 24 malignant soft tissue tumors (17.52 %). The benign to malignant ratio was 4.701. The soft tissue tumors were more common in males comprising 72 cases (52.55 %) as compared to females 65 cases (47.44 %) with a male-female ratio of 1.101. Majority of benign tumors were located in head and neck region (34 cases, 30 %), and soft tissue sarcomas showed a predilection for lower extremities (18 cases - 75 %). The benign soft tissue tumors occurred over a wide range of distribution with peak incidence in the fourth decade of life (27 cases - 23.89 %) & were more common in males - 60 cases (53.09 %). Malignant soft tissue tumors occurred with an equal frequency in both male and female patients accounting for 12 cases each. The most common benign soft tissue tumors was adipose tissue tumor (52 cases - 46.01 %) followed by vascular tumors (20 cases - 17.69 %), fibrous tumors (18 cases - 15.92 %), peripheral nerve sheath tumors (8 cases - 7. %), synovial tumors (5 cases - 4.4 %), fibrohistiocytic tumors (4 cases - 3.5 %), smooth muscle tumors (3 cases - 2.65 %). In soft tissue sarcomas, malignant fibrous histiocytic tumors were the commonest tumors (5 cases - 20.83 %), followed by PNET and related lesions (4 cases - 16.66 %). These were followed by adipose tissue and perivascular tumors (3 cases each - 12.5 %), and fibrous and vascular tumours (2cases- 8.3 %). Majority of soft tissue sarcomas were grade-2 accounting for 10 cases (43.47 %) Conclusion A good clinical acumen, thorough description and grossing of specimens, and light microscopic evaluation of hematoxylin and eosin stained sections are fundamental aspects in the diagnosis of soft tissue tumors. Majority of soft tissue tumors can be diagnosed by hematoxylin and eosin stained sections, supplemented by special stains and immunohistochemistry, yet the foundation of these newer techniques rests upon the diagnosis made on light microscopic evaluation of hematoxylin and eosin stained sections