This page was reviewed under our medical and editorial policy by
Maurie Markman, MD, President, Medicine & Science.
This page was updated on June 6, 2022.
Some common risk factors for soft tissue sarcoma include:
Age: While soft tissue sarcoma can occur in people of any age, it is more commonly found in adults over the age of 50.
Hereditary conditions: Some rare, inherited genetic conditions are considered risk factors for soft tissue sarcoma. Speak with your doctor if you have a family history of any of the below conditions, or a history of sarcomas.
They include:
Chemical exposure: Exposure to vinyl chloride and dioxin may increase the risk of developing soft tissue sarcomas. Vinyl chloride is used to make polyvinyl chloride (PVC) pipes, car upholstery, plastic kitchenware and wire coatings.
Dioxins are a group of chemicals that form during the burning of household and industrial waste. One notable type of dioxin is Agent Orange, which was a herbicide used in the Vietnam War to clear ground cover. Many veterans were exposed to Agent Orange. If you served in Vietnam, Thailand or the Korean Demilitarized Zone, know that there is evidence that soft tissue sarcomas are linked to chemical exposure. Speak with your doctor or contact the U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs to learn about testing options and medical benefits that may apply to you.
Radiation therapy: On rare occasions, external radiation therapy to treat any form of cancer can lead to the development of soft tissue sarcoma later in life in the treated area. This can occur anywhere from five to 30 years after initial treatment.
Weakened immune system: People with human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) sometimes develop Kaposi sarcoma, a type of soft tissue sarcoma that forms in cells that line blood vessels or lymph vessels.
This rare type of sarcoma is treated differently than other, more common types of soft tissue sarcoma.
Other immune system disorders may also cause an increased risk of soft tissue sarcoma, including lupus, psoriasis or cancers such as chronic lymphocytic leukemia.
Lymphedema: Patients with lymphedema have an increased risk because sarcomas may sometimes form in the same areas. Lymphedema is a type of swelling that develops in your body as a side effect of surgery or radiation therapy. Sometimes people are born with lymphedema.