SOFT TISSUES (ICD‐O‐3 C38.1–3, C47–49)

Rules for Classification

There should be histological confirmation of the disease and division of cases by histological type and grade.

Anatomical Sites

Connective, subcutaneous, and other soft tissues (C49), peripheral nerves (C47)
Retroperitoneum (C48.0)
Mediastinum: anterior (38.1); posterior (C38.2); mediastinum, NOS (C38.3)

Histological Types of Tumour

The following histological types are not included:

Kaposi sarcoma
Dermatofibrosarcoma (protuberans)
Fibromatosis (desmoid tumour)
Sarcoma arising from the dura mater or brain
Angiosarcoma, an aggressive sarcoma, is excluded because its natural history is not consistent with the classification

Note

Cystosarcoma phylloides is staged as a soft tissue sarcoma of the superficial trunk.

Regional Lymph Nodes

The regional lymph nodes are those appropriate to the site of the primary tumour. Regional node involvement is rare, and cases in which nodal status is not assessed either clinically or pathologically could be considered N0 instead of NX or pNX.

TNM Clinical Classification

T – Primary Tumour – Extremity and Superficial Trunk

TX	Primary tumour cannot be assessed
T0	No evidence of primary tumour
T1	Tumour 5 cm or less in greatest dimension (Figs. 311, 312)
T2	Tumour more than 5 cm but no more than 10 cm in greatest dimension (Figs. 311, 313)
T3	Tumour more than 10 cm but no more than 15 cm in greatest dimension (Fig. 314)
T4	Tumour more than 15 cm in greatest dimension (Fig. 315, 316)