Cutaneous Mesenchymal Sarcomas

Frances Walocko; Rachel E Christensen; Brandon Worley; Murad Alam

doi:10.1016/j.det.2022.07.011

Cutaneous Mesenchymal Sarcomas

Dermatol Clin. 2023 Jan;41(1):133-140. doi: 10.1016/j.det.2022.07.011. Epub 2022 Oct 28.

Authors

Frances Walocko¹, Rachel E Christensen¹, Brandon Worley², Murad Alam³

Affiliations

¹ Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 North Saint Clair Street, 1600, Chicago, IL 60611, USA.
² Florida Dermatology and Skin Cancer Centers, 421 Linden Lane, Lake Wales, Lake Wales, FL 33853, USA.
³ Department of Dermatology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 North Saint Clair Street, 1600, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Surgery, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 North Saint Clair Street, 1600, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Otolaryngology, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 North Saint Clair Street, 1600, Chicago, IL 60611, USA; Department of Medical Social Sciences, Feinberg School of Medicine, Northwestern University, 676 North Saint Clair Street, 1600, Chicago, IL 60611, USA. Electronic address: m-alam@northwestern.edu.

PMID: 36410974
DOI: 10.1016/j.det.2022.07.011

Abstract

Cutaneous mesenchymal sarcomas are rare malignancies that include dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans, atypical fibroxanthoma, pleomorphic dermal sarcoma, cutaneous angiosarcoma, myofibrosarcoma, and leiomyosarcoma. These tumors lack consensus guidelines on staging and management. Treatment of local disease involves complete surgical removal but recurrence rates are higher compared with more common forms of nonmelanoma skin cancer. Cutaneous angiosarcoma, pleomorphic dermal sarcoma, and subcutaneous leiomyosarcoma have increased risk of metastatic spread and lower survival rate. Further research is needed on targeted therapies for these more aggressive sarcomas.

Keywords: Cutaneous mesenchymal sarcoma; Dermatologic surgery; Mohs micrographic surgery; Nonmelanoma skin cancer.

Publication types

Review

MeSH terms

Hemangiosarcoma* / pathology
Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous*
Humans
Leiomyosarcoma* / pathology
Sarcoma* / pathology
Sarcoma* / surgery
Skin Neoplasms* / pathology
Skin Neoplasms* / surgery