PRINCIPLES FOR PATHOLOGICAL ANATOMIC DIAGNOSIS AND CLASSIFICATION OF SOFT-TISSUE SARCOMAS

Soft-tissue tumors are classified as frankly or potentially malignant, and as benign tumors and tumor-like lesions that can mimic soft-tissu e sarcomas and other malignancies. Classification of soft-tissue sarco mas is based on knowledge or assumption of cell and tissue origin and differentiation. New principles and methods are used for the pathologi c-anatomic diagnosis of these lesions. With increasing research on chr omosomal aberrations and molecular biology, knowledge of the biology o f soft-tissue sarcomas will grow, which in turn, will further revise c urrent tumor classifications.