Question
A neighbor’s child has been diagnosed with pediatric soft tissue sarcoma, with symptoms including a hard lump on the calf, tenderness, fever, nausea, and vomiting. What should be done for this condition?
Answer
Pediatric soft tissue sarcoma is a tumor that originates from fat, fascia, muscle, fibrous tissue, lymphatic tissue, and blood vessels. Each tissue has different histological, biological characteristics, and different regional infiltration, blood, and lymphatic metastasis. The treatment method mainly depends on whether the tumor can be completely resected. For tumors that can be completely removed, the tumor should be excised along with the surrounding normal tissue (including the site of biopsy, skin, and nearby muscle). If the tumor is located in the muscle, the affected muscle should be removed from both the head and tail. Lymph node dissection is only performed when there is clinical evidence of lymph node involvement.