What are the possible causes of soft tissue sarcomas?
Although most soft tissue sarcomas do not have a clearly defined cause, researchers have identified several factors that increase the likelihood of developing these tumors (2). External radiation therapy is the most well-established risk factor for soft tissue sarcomas. Patients treated with radiation therapy for cancers of the retina, breast, cervix, ovary, testes, or lymphatic system have a much higher chance of developing soft tissue sarcomas than the general population (1). The risk appears to be related to the dose of radiation. To limit this risk, radiation treatment for cancer is planned to ensure that the greatest amount of radiation is delivered to diseased tissue while surrounding healthy tissue is protected as much as possible. Another risk factor for soft tissue sarcomas is exposure to certain chemicals in the workplace, including vinyl chloride, arsenic, herbicides such as phenoxyacetic acids, and wood preservatives that contain chlorophenols (2). Chronic lymphedema (a con
