Types of Sarcoma: Bone and Soft Tissue Subtypes

This page is for people who have been told they have a sarcoma, or who want to understand the word. It covers the main bone and soft tissue types and why the exact subtype matters.

"Sarcoma" is not one disease. It is a large group of different cancers, and the American Cancer Society counts more than 50 types of soft tissue sarcoma on its own. They start in bone or in soft, connective tissue — fat, muscle, nerves, blood vessels, tendons, and fibrous tissue. Doctors usually name a sarcoma after the tissue it most resembles under the microscope. That is why the names can sound unfamiliar.

Bone sarcomas start in bone itself. The main subtypes are:

• Osteosarcoma — starts in osteoblasts, the cells that build bone. NCI says it mainly affects teens and young adults.
• Ewing sarcoma — starts in a certain kind of cell in bone or soft tissue. NCI says it is most common in teens through the mid-20s.
• Chondrosarcoma — starts in cartilage, the flexible tissue that cushions joints.

Soft tissue sarcomas are named for the tissue they resemble. Common subtypes include:

• Liposarcoma — starts in fat tissue. The American Cancer Society says it is most common in the thigh and deep in the abdomen.
• Leiomyosarcoma — starts in smooth muscle. The American Cancer Society says it often starts in the abdomen or uterus.
• Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) — most often starts in the arms or legs, and sometimes deep in the back of the abdomen.
• Synovial sarcoma — starts in tissue around joints. The American Cancer Society says it is more common in children and young adults.
• Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) — starts in the wall of the stomach or intestine.
• Angiosarcoma — starts in the lining of blood or lymph vessels.
• Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor — starts in cells around nerves.
• Rhabdomyosarcoma — starts in skeletal muscle. NCI lists a childhood form.
• Kaposi sarcoma — starts in cells that line blood or lymph vessels. NCI links it to infection with HIV and human herpesvirus 8 (HHV-8).

The cells of each type of sarcoma look different under a microscope. NCI sorts soft tissue sarcomas into low, mid, and high grade, based on how abnormal the cells look and how fast they grow. NCI says the tissue sample should be checked by a pathologist who has experience diagnosing soft tissue sarcoma. Ask your care team about this. It helps get the diagnosis right, and with it the treatment plan.

• National Cancer Institute, Soft Tissue Sarcoma Treatment (PDQ) – Patient Version, accessed August 3, 2026.
• National Cancer Institute, Osteosarcoma and Undifferentiated Pleomorphic Sarcoma of Bone Treatment (PDQ) – Patient Version, accessed August 3, 2026.
• American Cancer Society, Soft Tissue Sarcoma, accessed August 3, 2026.
• American Cancer Society, What Is a Soft Tissue Sarcoma?, accessed August 13, 2026.