Best Sarcoma Doctors in Kolkata

Sarcoma is a rare form of cancer categorised into two main types: bone sarcoma and soft tissue sarcoma, affecting connective tissues like fat, muscle, blood vessels, nerves, and tissues surrounding bones and joints. It is a unique form of cancer, with over 50 different subtypes capable of developing in either bones or soft tissues. While the exact cause is not fully understood, potential factors include genetic conditions such as neurofibromatosis.

In Kolkata, reputable institutions like Apollo Hospitals employ doctors who treat tissue sarcoma and surgeons specialising in bone sarcoma . These specialists are highly skilled in diagnosing and treating this disease. In fact, some of the best surgeons specialising in muscle sarcoma or specialists for sarcoma treatment can be found at Apollo Hospitals Kolkata.

Types/Stages of Sarcoma

Sarcomas are categorised based on the type of cell they originated from:

• Soft Tissue Sarcomas: These begin in soft tissues like fat, muscle, or nerves.

• Osteosarcomas: These originate from bones.

• Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumours (GIST): These occur in the digestive tract.

• Ewing’s Sarcomas: These are found in bone or soft tissue.

• Rhabdomyosarcoma: A type of soft tissue sarcoma specifically affecting muscles.

• Synovial sarcoma: A soft tissue sarcoma occurring adjacent to joints.

• Liposarcoma: A sarcoma originating in fat cells, often in the soft tissues of the limbs or abdomen.

• Angiosarcoma: A rare sarcoma arising in the lining cells of blood or lymph vessels, commonly occurring in the skin, breast, liver, or deep tissues.

  The stages of sarcoma range from Stage I to Stage IV, with lower stages indicating less spread and higher stages indicating more advanced cancer that may have spread to other parts of the body.

  Symptoms of Sarcoma

  The symptoms of Sarcomas can vary greatly based on their location and size:

• A painless lump or swelling which may grow painful over time

• Pain in the bone, often worse at night

• Reduced range of motion in a joint due to swelling or a lump

• General symptoms like fatigue, fever, weight loss, and anaemia.

• Difficulty breathing or chest pain

• Development of a limp or difficulty walking

  However, it should be noted that not all sarcomas cause symptoms in the early stages.

Tests to Diagnose Sarcoma

Specialists who treat sarcoma outline several steps for the diagnosis of sarcoma:

• Physical examination: This includes an initial assessment of lumps or swelling.

• Imaging tests: Imaging tests like ultrasound, X-ray, CT scan, MRI, and PET scan provide detailed images of sarcomas and surrounding tissues, aiding in diagnosis.

• Biopsy: Biopsy methods, like Fine Needle Aspiration, Core Needle Biopsy, and Surgical Biopsy, are used to extract tissue samples from tumours for microscopic examination.

• Genetic testing: This identifies specific mutations or abnormalities.

• Bone Scan: This involves injecting a small amount of radioactive material into the bloodstream to detect areas of cancer spread to the bones

• Blood Tests: This assesses overall health, organ function and specific tumour markers.

  Treatment or Surgery Options for Sarcoma at Apollo Hospitals in Kolkata:

Apollo Hospitals, Kolkata offers a comprehensive range of treatment options for sarcoma:

• Surgery: The primary treatment option where the surgeon removes the tumour along with a margin of healthy tissue.

• Radiation Therapy: This can be administered before or after surgery to destroy cancer cells.

• Chemotherapy: Used to shrink tumours before surgery or kill remaining cancer cells afterwards.

• Targeted Therapy: These drugs attack specific weaknesses in cancer cells, sparing healthy tissue from excessive damage.

• Radiofrequency Ablation (RFA): This uses radio waves to heat and destroy cancer cells, often for small sarcomas or to alleviate symptoms in advanced cases.

• Additional therapies: This includes immunotherapy to activate the immune system against cancer, adjuvant therapy post-surgery to prevent a recurrence, and neoadjuvant therapy before surgery to shrink tumours and evaluate treatment response.