In this context, the term soft tissue refers to tissues that connect, support, or surround other structures and organs of the body. Soft tissue includes muscles, tendons (bands of fiber that connect muscles to bones), fibrous tissues, fat, blood vessels, nerves, and synovial tissues (tissues around joints).

There are many different kinds of soft tissue sarcomas. They are grouped together because they share certain microscopic characteristics, produce similar symptoms, and are generally treated in similar ways. (Bone tumors, also known as osteosarcomas, are also called sarcomas, but are in a separate category because they have different clinical and microscopic characteristics and are treated differently.)

Sarcomas can invade surrounding tissue and can metastasize (spread) to other organs of the body, forming secondary tumors. The cells of secondary tumors are similar to those of the primary (original) cancer. Secondary tumors are referred to as "metastatic soft tissue sarcoma" because they are part of the same cancer and are not a new disease.

Some tumors of the soft tissue are benign (noncancerous). These tumors do not spread and are rarely life-threatening. However, benign tumors can crowd nearby organs and cause symptoms or interfere with normal body functions.

What are the possible causes of soft tissue sarcomas?

Scientists do not fully understand why some people develop sarcomas while the vast majority do not. However, by identifying common characteristics in groups with unusually high occurrence rates, researchers have been able to single out some factors that may play a role in causing soft tissue sarcomas.

Studies suggest that workers who are exposed to phenoxyacetic acid in herbicides and chlorophenols in wood preservatives may have an increased risk of developing soft tissue sarcomas. An unusual percentage of patients with a rare blood vessel tumor, angiosarcoma of the liver, have been exposed to vinyl chloride in their work. This substance is used in the manufacture of certain plastics.

In the early 1900s, when scientists were just discovering the potential uses of radiation to treat disease, little was known about safe dosage levels and precise methods of delivery. At that time, radiation was used to treat a variety of noncancerous medical problems, including enlargement of the tonsils, adenoids, and thymus gland. Later, researchers found that high doses of radiation caused soft tissue sarcomas in some patients. Because of this risk, radiation treatment for cancer is now planned to ensure that the maximum dosage of radiation is delivered to diseased tissue while surrounding healthy tissue is protected as much as possible.

Researchers believe that a retrovirus plays an indirect role in the development of Kaposi's sarcoma, a rare cancer of the cells that line blood vessels in the skin and mucus membranes. Kaposi's sarcoma often occurs in patients with AIDS (acquired immune deficiency syndrome). AIDS-related Kaposi's sarcoma, however, has different characteristics and is treated differently than typical soft tissue sarcomas.

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Pencil-core granuloma of the distal radio-ulnar joint: An unusual presentation as soft-tissue sarcoma after 45 years
From Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery, 7/1/03 by Kulkarni, A

Received 26 April 2002; Accepted 9 July 2002

A case of pencil-gore granuloma occurring 45 years after the initial injury is described. The clinical and radiological presentation was suggestive of a soft-tissue sarcoma. The diagnosis was confirmed by biopsy, which also revealed foreign body fragments which, on spectometric analysis, had high concentrations of carbon and aluminium.

Injuries caused by pencils are common and usually trivial. We present a case of a pencil-core granuloma arising from the distal radio-ulnar joint 45 years after the initial injury and which resembled a soft-tissue sarcoma. There are seven previous case reports1-7 in the literature of pencil-core granuloma presenting to dermatologists, plastic surgeons, ophthalmologists and neurosurgeons as a suspected melanoma, haemangioma or abscess.

Case report

A 60-year-old right-handed bus driver who had a rapidly growing lump on his right wrist, was referred to our tumour unit. He gave a history of being stabbed in the right wrist by a pencil at the age of 15 years after which he hud undergone surgical removal of the pencil lead the same evening under local anaesthetic. There were no further problems from this until the rapid onset of swelling 45 years later. He correlated the onset of pain and swelling in his wrist to an injury at work. There were no other musculoskeletal symptoms and no significant family or personal history.

On examination there was a tender, multilobulated, firm swelling 4 x 4 cm in size on the volar and medial aspect of the right wrist which appeared to envelope the head of the ulna. It was deep to the deep fascia. There was a normal range of movement of the wrist and forearm.

Radiographs showed erosion of the cortices of the distal radius and ulna (Fig. 1). MRI showed a large lobulated soft-tissue mass arising from the distal radio-ulnar joint (Fig. 2). The differential diagnosis was between a synovial proliferative disorder, neoplasm and tuberculosis. The chest radiograph was normal. The ESR was 2 mm at 1 hour and the level of C-reactive protein 3 mg/l. A biopsy was performed which showed multiple fragments of dense collagenous tissue, synovium and fibrin with embedded metal-like particles. In view of the history, these were thought to be foreign-body fragments of graphite from the pencil core. There was also deposition of haemosiderin indicating previous local haemorrhage. There was no evidence of infection (Figs 3 and 4).

A small piece of the biopsy sample was cut and examined in a Philips XL-30 scanning electron microscope operating at 15 kV. Using signals of secondary electrons, the surface morphology of the sample was revealed. Chemical analysis was also performed through an ultra-thin window energy-dispersive x-ray (EDX) spectrometer, which can detect light elements down to boron. A few spectra were collected in which peaks for carbon, oxygen and aluminium were seen (Fig. 5). The patient declined further surgery and when last reviewed the lump was still present although not causing symptoms.

Discussion

Pencil lead is made up of graphite (elementary carbon), clay (aluminium silicate), various waxes and lacquers. Graphite and clay are the main components.1,2,4 As seen from the spectrometric analysis the fragments of foreign body showed a high percentage of carbon and aluminium. Each component of a pencil core can induce a tissue reaction. Silica, a component in clay, can incite an epithelioid granulomatous reaction. Graphite particles may cause a chronic granulomatous reaction in the lung called graphite pneumoconiosis.1,8

There have been three case reports of pencil-core granuloma in a limb reported in the literature in two of which it clinically resembled a melanoma1,4 and in one a haemangioma.2 In addition, there have been three ophthalmic injuries described in other case reports which clinically resembled a melanoma3,5,7 and one intracerebral injury which was initially reported as a brain abscess.6 All presented many years after the initial injury. MRI can identify the presence of pencil lead.9 In our patient, MRI did show signal voids indicative of a metal foreign body (Fig. 2).

The clinical presentation was highly suggestive of a soft-tissue sarcoma with the rapid appearance of a painless mass deep to the fascia. Any patient with such symptoms and signs requires further investigation to exclude a malignant tumour.10

Pencil is believed to be a harmless stationery article. This report, and others, indicates that caution must be exercised when treating stab injuries caused by pencils. All penetrating injuries caused by a pencil should be carefully assessed and treated in order to remove all pieces of lead from the wound.

Our case also emphasises the importance of investigating any soft-tissue mass by biopsy before embarking on definitive treatment.

We wish to thank Professor E. R. Smallman and the Department of Physical Metallurgy, University of Birmingham, for the studies using the electron microscope.

No benefits in any form have been received or will be received from a commercial party related directly or indirectly to the subject of this article.

References

1. Yoshitatsu S, Takagi T. A case of giant cell pencil-core granuloma. J Dermatol 2000;27:329-32.

2. Hanato Y, Asada Y, Komada S, Fujiwara S, Takayasu S. A case of pencil core granuloma with unusual temporal profile. Dermatology 2000;201:151-3.

3. Herman TE, Shackelford GD, Tychsen L. Unrecognised retention of intraorbital graphite pencil fragments: the role of computerized tomography. Pediatr Radiol 1995;25:535-7.

4. Granick MS, Erickson ER, Soloman MP. Pencil-core granuloma. Plast Reconstr Surg 1992;89:136-8.

5. Guy JR, Rao NA. Graphite foreign body of the conjunctiva simulating melanoma. Cornea 1985-86;4:263-5.

6. Mikhael MA, Matter AG. Case report: chronic graphite granulomatous abscess simulating a brain tumour. J Comput Assist Tomogr 1977;1:513-6.

7. Wronski J, Tota J. Cerebral complications following injury to the orbit with a pencil. Neurol Neurochir Pol 1971;5:597-600.

8. Jaffe FA. Graphite pneumoconiosis. Am J Pathol 1951;27:909-23.

9. Nelson EW, DeHart MM, Christensen AW, Smith DK. Magnetic resonance imaging characteristic of a lead pencil foreign body in the hand. J Hand Surg 1996;21-A:100-3.

10. Johnson CJD, Pynsent PB, Grimer RJ. Clinical features of soft tissue sarcomas. Ann R Coll Surg Engl 2001;83:203-5.

A. Kulkarni, D. C. Mangham, A. M. Davies, R. J. Grimer, S. R. Carter, R. M. Tillman

From the Royal Orthopaedic Hospital, Birmingham, England

A. Kulkarni, MRCS, Research Fellow in Oncology

D. C. Mangham, MRCPath, Consultant Histopathologist

A. M. Davies, FRCR, Consultant Radiologist

R. J. Grimer, FRCS, Consultant Orthopaedic Oncologist

S. R. Carter, FRCS, Consultant Orthopaedic Oncologist

R. M. Tillman, FRCS (Orth), FRCS Ed. Consultant Orthopaedic Oncologist

The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital NHS Trust, Bristol Road South, Northfield, Birmingham B31 2AP, UK.

Correspondence should be sent to Mr R. J. Grimer.

doi:10.1302/0301-620X.85B5.13499 $2.00

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