What Is The Prognosis For Myxofibrosarcoma?

Myxofibrosarcoma is a malignant cancer of soft tissues. It affects the tissues under the skin and deep muscular layers. It usually develops in legs and arms. This form of cancer is not been studied thoroughly. Its causes are not clear. It is supposed to be caused by defective genes. It occurs in elderly people of the age 50-80 years of age. It occurs more in males than in females. Its tumors are painless malignant mass that grows at a slow pace over a period of time. It is treated with chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery. Its prognosis depends on the grades of the tumor.

What Is The Prognosis For Myxofibrosarcoma?

The prognostic factors that develop in soft tissue sarcomas like myxofibrosarcoma depend on the age of patient, location, and size of the tumor at the time of diagnosis, its type, histologic grade, mitotic rate, the extent of the tumor and individual’s response to the treatment. When the age of the patient increases above 60 years, tumor size is greater than 5 cm, high-grade histology and even after resection, the margins of tumors remain positive, then the prognosis of myxofibrosarcoma becomes poor.⁽³⁾

The prognosis of any cancer is determined by the stage of the cancer present at the time of diagnosis. The prognosis is directly proportional to 5-year survival rates. In low-grade myxofibrosarcoma, the 5-year survival rate is 50-80 percent. In high-grade myxofibrosarcoma, tumor cells metastasize to lungs or bones complicating the condition. In such cases, the prognosis of cancer becomes poor. The 5-year survival rate is limited to 30 percent.⁽⁴⁾

Small tumors present at the easily accessible sites have a good prognosis when excised surgically. If the tumors are detected late, then, its prognosis also becomes poor. If the tumor reappears in the same site within a year of surgical removal, it indicates poor prognosis. If it infiltrates more deep into the muscles, it leaves bad prognosis. In certain cases, low-grade tumors that change into high-grade tumors have a poor prognosis.⁽⁵⁾

Myxofibrosarcoma (MFS) is a malignant cancer of soft tissues. It is a slow, growing, and painless lump that develops in legs or arms. It occurs in old people in the age between 50 to 70 years. It affects men more than in women. It starts from the connective tissues especially around the muscles that act as separating layer between muscles and skin. Its location may be just below the skin or deeper in the muscles.⁽¹⁾

Myxofibrosarcoma is also known as malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH). It is characterized by the slow development of infiltrating mass without pain in the affected areas. It is a malignant tumor that may spread to other parts of the body. Its exact causes are not known. It is caused due to mutations in the genes. There is no risk factor known for myxofibrosarcoma until today. It cannot be prevented as this type of cancer is not understood fully.⁽²⁾

The signs and symptoms of myxofibrosarcoma are seen in elderly people. In this type of cancer, the growth of abnormal mass occurs slowly in short span of time. The mass grows without pain. It grows mostly in extremities that are arms or legs.⁽²⁾

There are three types of myxofibrosarcoma-

High-Grade Myxofibrosarcoma- in this type, the metastasis of the cancerous cells occurs in increased intensity.⁽²⁾
Intermediate Myxofibrosarcoma- in this type, the cancerous cells metastasize at a lower rate.⁽²⁾
Low-Grade Myxofibrosarcoma- in this type, there is the lowest risk of metastasis.⁽²⁾ This type of tumors is not as aggressive as intermediate or high-grade myxofibrosarcoma.⁽¹⁾

Conclusion

Myxofibrosarcoma is a cancer of soft tissues that can transform into malignancy. Its prognosis depends on the age of the patient, size, location, and malignancy of the tumor. In low-grade tumors, the malignancy does not occur aggressively leading to a good prognosis. In immediate and high-grade tumors, aggressive malignancy develops leading to poor prognosis.

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What Is The Prognosis For Myxofibrosarcoma?