WHO Classification of Soft Tissue Tumors

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Abstract

Soft tissue tumors (STT) represent a complex group of lesions that may show a broad range of differentiation. The WHO (World Health Organization) classification has been up-to-dated in 2013 for the purpose of uniformity. The major modifications from the previous edition are the addition of three new chapters: gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST), nerve sheath tumors, and undifferentiated/unclassified sarcomas. The classification includes the following groups: (1) adipocytic tumors, (2) fibroblastic/myofibroblastic tumors, (3) so-called fibrohistiocytic tumors, (4) smooth muscle tumors, (5) pericytic (perivascular) tumors, (6) skeletal muscle tumors, (7) vascular tumors, (8) gastrointestinal stromal tumors, (9) nerve sheath tumors, (10) chondro-osseous tumors, (11) tumors of uncertain differentiation and (12) undifferentiated/unclassified sarcomas.

This chapter reviews the main features of the classification with the major changes within the different categories of soft tissue tumors. The WHO classification might serve as a guide for radiologists working in a multidisciplinary committee with clinicians, surgeons, and pathologists.

Keywords

Gastrointestinal Stromal Tumor Synovial Sarcoma Solitary Fibrous Tumor Nerve Sheath Tumor Smooth Muscle Tumor 
These keywords were added by machine and not by the authors. This process is experimental and the keywords may be updated as the learning algorithm improves.
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Copyright information

© Springer International Publishing AG 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  1. 1.Department of RadiologyClínica Girona. Institute Catalan of Health – IDI. University of GironaGironaSpain

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