Myxofibrosarcoma can be treated through different treatment methods. Treatment methods used depends upon the progression of the disease and the stage at which the disease is diagnosed.
What Is The Best Treatment For Myxofibrosarcoma?
Like treatment for other cancers, no treatment is best for particular cancer to all the patients. The treatment is designed as per the severity of cancer, speed of progression and response of the patient. Age also plays a major role in choosing the treatment. Further, in case of myxofibrosarcoma, the grade of the tumor is also a decisive factor in treatment. In cases of low-grade tumor, surgery may be required while in the intermediate and high-grade tumor, a combination of surgery and radiation therapy is required. Chemotherapy is also proved to be effective in patients with myxofibrosarcoma.
Various options are available for the treatment of myxofibrosarcoma. The treatment strategy comprises simultaneous treatment methods. The treatment of myxofibrosarcoma depends upon a variety of factors. The tumor which is deep is more aggressive and thus aggressive treatment is required. Size of the tumor provides a clue in deciding if surgery, chemotherapy or radiation therapy or a combination is required to treat the condition. Grade of the tumor also decides the choice of treatment.
Following are the various treatment options available:
Surgery. Surgery is generally required in the low-grade myxofibrosarcoma; provide the tumor present is superficial. However, surgery should be done with high precision as the structures surrounding the tumor may be damaged. Further, complete removal of the tumor is sometime not possible through surgery due to the involvement of surrounding tissues3.
Radiations Therapy. Radiation therapy is generally used along with the surgery. Radiation therapy may be done before or after the surgery. Prior-to-surgery radiation therapy forms a borderline around the tumor so that during surgery, the tumor can be removed with precision without damaging the surrounding tissues1. If the surgery is not able to completely remove the tumor, radiation therapy is used to completely kill the cancerous cells.
Chemotherapy. Chemotherapy is not effective to a similar extent as it is effective in other cancers. In a few studies, chemotherapy is shown to be effective in myxofibrosarcoma4.
Diagnosis Of Myxofibrosarcoma
Diagnosis of myxofibrosarcoma is difficult. Due to the highly heterogeneous characteristics without any specific feature, the condition either remains undiagnosed or may be misdiagnosed. For achieving the diagnosis of myxofibrosarcoma, a complementary immunohistochemical analysis should be done. It is one of the aggressive neoplasms with a high potential of metastasizing. Thus, the diagnosis of the disease should be done accurately and as early as possible. Diagnosis is especially critical in case of recurrence as myxofibrosarcoma is highly aggressive when recurred. Following are the methods used to diagnose the condition:
Physical Evaluation Of The Tumor. The primary evaluation of the tumor is done by evaluation of the tumor. If the tumor is larger in size and grows further and situated deep inside the tissue then myxofibrosarcoma is suspected1. The growth at the base of the tumor and how deep it is fitted inside the tissue is difficult to evaluate.
Imaging Techniques. Imaging techniques such as Magnetic Resonance imaging is used to identify the presence of tumor1. However, the imaging technique fails to give any idea about the extent of cancer.
Biopsy. Myxofibrosarcoma is conclusively diagnosed with a biopsy. During the biopsy, a small tissue forms the tumor is taken and is evaluated under the microscope. The growth of the cell is evaluated and the presence of any malignant cells is analyzed. Fine needle aspiration may be used for biopsy2.
Diagnosis For Metastasis. Myxofibrosarcoma has a high probability for metastasizing, especially in lungs. Thus, after the confirmatory diagnosis of the condition, a chest X-ray is done to determine if cancer has spread to lungs1.
Conclusion
No treatment is said to be the best treatment which universally treats all the patients of myxofibrosarcoma. Treatment depends upon grade, size of the tumor, location of tumor and speed or progression tumor. Treatment which effectively controls the growth of the tumor and completely cures the disease is the best treatment in that particular patient.
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