Gynaecological sarcomas

Abstract

Purpose of review: To review gynaecological sarcomas, their management and future perspectives.

Recent findings: Soft tissue sarcomas are a group of tumours consisting of a wide variety of subtypes. The most common subtypes encountered in the female tract are uterine leiomyosarcomas and endometrial stromal sarcomas. Other subtypes do occur but at a much lower frequency. Mixed Müllerian tumours were previously considered to be a subtype of sarcoma, but recent evidence has revealed that they should in fact be regarded as carcinomas. Given the different approaches for different subtypes of sarcomas, their rarity and the complexity of treatment, the management of patients with gynaecological sarcomas should be delivered by multidisciplinary teams experienced in the treatment of these entities.

Summary: Gynaecological sarcomas are rare tumours and are treated differently from gynaecological carcinomas. Hopefully, improved insight into the pathogenesis of gynaecological sarcomas will yield novel therapies in the near future.