| What is Sarcomatoid cancer? | | | | SARC is an aggressive form of cancer and the |
| Sarcomatoid cancer (SARC) of the lung is a rare | | | | resultant tumors are frequently symptomatic, locally |
| type of Non-Small Cell Lung Cancer (NSCLC). | | | | advanced and have high rates of recurrence. |
| Non-Small Cell lung cancer accounts for about 80% of | | | | Non-surgical treatments are usually recommended for |
| all lung cancers. There are several types of Non-Small | | | | patients with clinically advanced Sarcomatoid cancer. |
| Cell lung cancer and each type is associated with a | | | | Inflammatory Sarcomatoid Carcinoma is an |
| uniquely different type of cancer cells. Sarcomatoid | | | | aggressive tumor with an unusually benign |
| cancer cells tend to invade the lung tissue more | | | | appearance. Inflammatory SARC amounts to just |
| deeply than other types of cancerous cells. | | | | 0.1% to 0.4% of all lung malignancies and most often |
| It has been suggested that radiotherapy for the | | | | occurs in male smokers who are usually around 60 |
| treatment of a patient's other cancer's may induce a | | | | years of age at the time of diagnosis. |
| Sarcomatoid change in lung tissue which could | | | | Patients most often present with cough, hemoptysis |
| preempt the subsequent development of a | | | | (coughing blood), chest pain, and dyspnea (shortness |
| Sarcomatoid Carcinoma. | | | | of breath). As with other non-small cell carcinomas of |
| Sarcomatoid cancer (SARC) is sometimes found in | | | | the lung, the clinical stage of SARC seems to be the |
| other parts of the body although the incidence is | | | | most important prognostic factor. The diagnosis of |
| more common in the upper body, particularly the | | | | Sarcomatoid Carcinoma cancer requires the exclusion |
| lungs. Although this rare form of cancer has been | | | | of other diseases that histologically - that is, |
| associated with a poor prognosis, its effect on | | | | microscopically - may appear similar. It is therefore |
| survival rates and incidence of recurrence has not | | | | most often not confirmed as being SARC until tumor |
| been well documented or studied to date. | | | | sampling has been carried out. |
| The survival rate in patients diagnosed with SARC is | | | | SARC may be mistaken for an inflammatory |
| dependent upon a number of factors such as any | | | | pseudo-tumor (IP) which is the most common type |
| metastases and the original cause or site of the | | | | of lung cancer found predominantly in younger |
| cancer. In a recent study, the five year survival rate | | | | patients who have a history of cigarette smoking. |
| for Sarcomatoid cancer patients was 24.5% | | | | Chest x-rays can't always distinguish between SARC |
| compared with 46.3% for patients with other forms | | | | and IP so again, histologic investigations as well as |
| of NSCLC. | | | | biopsy may be required to make an accurate |
| Primary pulmonary Sarcomatoid Carcinoma can only | | | | diagnosis. |
| be differentiated from other types of carcinoma by | | | | The definitive diagnosis of Sarcomatoid Carcinoma |
| close examination involving immunohistochemistry | | | | with a primary or metastatic lung sarcoma - especially |
| (microscopic and biologic examinations) and molecular | | | | spindle cell carcinoma - can again be difficult and |
| analysis. Once a tumor is identified as being SARC, it | | | | in-depth studies may be required to establish if the |
| is then further defined by the presence of spindle cell | | | | SARC is primary or secondary to other pulmonary |
| lesions in the lung. SARC may also be described as a | | | | cancers. The treatment options for Sarcomatoid |
| Carcinosarcoma, a Pseudosarcomatoid Carcinoma or | | | | Carcinoma will vary depending upon many factors to |
| spindle cell Carcinoma. These are all terms which | | | | do with the patients overall condition. |
| define the lesions as seen on examination. | | | | |