Fibrosarcoma eMedicine Orthopedics

Description: Fibrosarcoma is a tumor of mesenchymal cell origin that is composed of malignant fibroblasts in a collagen background. It can occur as a soft-tissue mass or as a primary or secondary bone tumor. Fibrosarcoma was diagnosed much more frequently in the past; it is now more reliably distinguished histologically from similar lesions, such as desmoid tumors, malignant fibrous histiocytoma, malignant schwannoma, and high-grade osteosarcoma. The 2 main types of fibrosarcoma of bone are primary and secondary. Primary fibrosarcoma is a fibroblastic malignancy that produces variable amounts of collagen. It is either central (arising within the medullary canal) or peripheral (arising from the periosteum). Secondary fibrosarcoma of bone arises from a preexisting lesion or after radiotherapy to an area of bone or soft tissue. This is a more aggressive tumor and has a poorer prognosis.
Synonyms and related keywords: mesenchymal cell tumor, malignant fibroblasts, fibroblastic malignancy
Dickey & Floyd 2007