The short answer
Sarcoma is not one disease — it is a large group of cancers named for the tissue they start in. Bone sarcomas include osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma. Soft tissue sarcomas start in fat, muscle, nerve, or blood vessel tissue and include liposarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, and many other subtypes. The exact subtype guides treatment.
Sarcoma is a large group of cancers, broadly divided into bone sarcomas and soft tissue sarcomas; the American Cancer Society counts more than 50 types of soft tissue sarcoma alone.
Bone sarcomas include osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and chondrosarcoma (which starts in cartilage).
Soft tissue sarcomas are named for the tissue they resemble, such as liposarcoma (fat), leiomyosarcoma (smooth muscle), and angiosarcoma (blood vessels).
Gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST) is a soft tissue sarcoma of the digestive tract, and Kaposi sarcoma starts in blood or lymph vessel lining cells.
Choose how you want to understand this
The full explanation.
The simple version
"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
Bone sarcomas start in bone itself. The main subtypes are:
- Osteosarcoma — starts in osteoblasts, the cells that build bone. It is most common in teens and young adults.
- Ewing sarcoma — starts in a distinct type of cell in bone or nearby soft tissue. It is also most common in teens and young adults.
- Chondrosarcoma — starts in cartilage, the flexible tissue that cushions joints. It is more common in adults over 40.
Soft tissue sarcomas
Soft tissue sarcomas are named for the tissue they resemble. Common subtypes include:
- Liposarcoma — starts in fat tissue, often in the thigh or deep in the abdomen.
- Leiomyosarcoma — starts in smooth muscle, such as in the abdomen, uterus, or blood vessel walls.
- Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) — often in the arms, legs, or the back of the abdomen.
- Synovial sarcoma — starts in tissue around joints, often in younger 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 the tissue surrounding nerves.
- Rhabdomyosarcoma — starts in skeletal muscle, most common in children.
- Kaposi sarcoma — starts in blood or lymph vessel lining cells, linked to a virus (HHV-8) and a weakened immune system.
Why the subtype matters
Two sarcomas in the same part of the body can behave very differently. Subtype and grade drive that difference. Some subtypes grow slowly and rarely spread. Others are more aggressive and need stronger treatment. Each subtype is rare on its own. So having the pathology reviewed by a pathologist experienced in sarcoma — sometimes at a specialty center — can make a real difference. It helps get the diagnosis right, and with it the treatment plan.
Sources
- 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.
Words to know
Tap any term to see what it means.
Common questions
Is sarcoma one type of cancer?
No. Sarcoma is a broad category that includes many different subtypes — the American Cancer Society counts more than 50 types of soft tissue sarcoma alone — each named for the tissue it most resembles. They range from slow-growing to aggressive, and treatment can vary a great deal between subtypes.
What is the difference between a bone sarcoma and a soft tissue sarcoma?
A bone sarcoma, such as osteosarcoma or Ewing sarcoma, starts in bone. A soft tissue sarcoma starts in tissues that connect, support, or surround other structures in the body — fat, muscle, nerves, blood vessels, tendons, and fibrous (connective) tissue.
What are some common soft tissue sarcoma subtypes?
Common subtypes include liposarcoma (starts in fat tissue), leiomyosarcoma (smooth muscle, often in the abdomen or uterus), undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, synovial sarcoma (tissue around joints), and gastrointestinal stromal tumor, or GIST, which starts in the digestive tract.
What is chondrosarcoma?
Chondrosarcoma is a bone sarcoma that starts in cartilage, the flexible tissue that cushions joints. It is a separate subtype from osteosarcoma, which starts in bone-forming cells.
Why does the exact subtype matter so much?
Different subtypes can behave very differently — some grow slowly and rarely spread, while others are more aggressive. The subtype, along with grade and location, guides which treatments (surgery, radiation, chemotherapy, or targeted drugs) are likely to help, so an accurate pathology diagnosis is an important early step.
Questions to ask your doctor
Being prepared helps you get the most out of your appointments. Save or print these questions.
Tap a question to save it to your list (kept on this device).
Speak With Trained Specialists & Human Navigators
Cancer Explained provides educational guidance, but does not replace trained specialists, social workers, or your medical team.
Talk to a trained cancer information specialist
Free, confidential assistance from NCI Cancer Information Service via phone, chat, or email.
Contact your oncology team
Locate after-hours contact numbers, portal messages, or urgent triage phone lines.
Find a patient navigator
Get one-on-one help with appointments, logistics, translation, and care coordination.
Find a genetic counselor
Discuss inherited mutation risk, family history, and genetic testing options.
Find an oncology social worker
Access emotional counseling, family support groups, and mental health resources.
Find a financial navigator
Locate copay assistance foundations, grant programs, and lodging/travel support.
Find a clinical-trial specialist
Search matching studies and speak with NCI trial information specialists.
Get urgent help
Immediate emergency guidance for fever (>100.4°F during chemo), severe pain, or shortness of breath.
Help Us Improve This Guide
Did this explanation answer your question and help you determine your next step?
Know someone who needs this?
Plenty of people are looking for something like this and do not know where to start. If this would help a friend or someone you love, send it on — we have written an opening line so you do not have to stare at an empty message. You can change every word of it.
Your message is written and sent in your own email or messaging app — we never see who you send it to, and nothing is added to any list.
Plain-language explanation of the published sources cited on this page. AI-assisted, source-checked, not clinician-reviewed.
Last updated: 2026-08-18Next planned review: 2027-08-03
How this page was created
Cancer Explained does not originate medical claims. Every page restates guidance already published by the National Cancer Institute, the CDC, the USPSTF and the FDA, in plain language, with the source cited so you can check the original yourself. AI does the translating and organizing; automated checks test claims, citations, clarity and safety before anything publishes. We do not employ clinicians and do not intend to — our work is translation and navigation, not clinical judgment. Nothing here is personal medical advice, and no page can account for your particular situation.
Editorial status — Source checked. This page was written with AI assistance and checked line by line against the sources listed on it. That confirms the sources support what the page says. It is not a medical review, and it does not confirm the page is complete or right for your situation.
General education — varies by person. Answers genuinely differ between people. This page explains what commonly varies and points you to your care team for your situation.
Human medical review: not completed. Pages here are not signed off by a clinician before they publish. That is not an oversight we are quietly working around: we restate published guidance and cite it, so the authority belongs to the source rather than to us, and every page names where its claims come from — you can verify us instead of trusting us. Where a volunteer clinician has reviewed a page, their name and credentials appear on it; where no name appears, no clinician has checked it. We are glad to have reviewers and are recruiting them, and we do not hold pages back waiting for one. Use this site to understand your situation and to ask better questions of the people treating you.
How this page was created
Cancer Explained does not originate medical claims. Every page restates guidance already published by the National Cancer Institute, the CDC, the USPSTF and the FDA, in plain language, with the source cited so you can check the original yourself. AI does the translating and organizing; automated checks test claims, citations, clarity and safety before anything publishes. We do not employ clinicians and do not intend to — our work is translation and navigation, not clinical judgment. Nothing here is personal medical advice, and no page can account for your particular situation.
Editorial status: Source checked — This page was written with AI assistance and checked line by line against the sources listed on it. That confirms the sources support what the page says. It is not a medical review, and it does not confirm the page is complete or right for your situation.
Human medical review: not completed. Pages here are not signed off by a clinician before they publish. That is not an oversight we are quietly working around: we restate published guidance and cite it, so the authority belongs to the source rather than to us, and every page names where its claims come from — you can verify us instead of trusting us. Where a volunteer clinician has reviewed a page, their name and credentials appear on it; where no name appears, no clinician has checked it. We are glad to have reviewers and are recruiting them, and we do not hold pages back waiting for one. Use this site to understand your situation and to ask better questions of the people treating you.
Read more about our editorial process, our use of AI, and our corrections policy.
Spotted a problem? Report an error — a factual mistake, broken or outdated source, confusing wording, or anything that seems unsafe. Please do not include names, medical record numbers, dates of birth, addresses, or other identifying medical information in your report.
After using this page, do you understand what to do next?
Anonymous — we only record the answer, never who gave it.
Related articles
- Sarcoma: A Plain-Language Overview
- Sarcoma Symptoms: Bone and Soft Tissue Warning Signs
- Sarcoma Stages: How Bone and Soft Tissue Sarcoma Are Staged
- Soft Tissue Sarcoma: A Plain-Language Overview
- Osteosarcoma: Symptoms, Stages, and Treatment
- Ewing Sarcoma: Symptoms, Stages, and Treatment
- Kaposi Sarcoma: Types, Symptoms, and Treatment
- Carcinoma vs. Sarcoma: What's the Difference?
Still have questions?
Educational answers, plain language
Free to print and share