Modern pathological evaluation of soft tissue sarcoma specimens and its potential role in soft tissue sarcoma research

The vast majority of soft tissue tumors (STT), especially sarcomas, should be examined according to a national standard for pathologic evaluation, including a national consensus on a grading system and elements of a synoptic pathology report. The margins should be separated into fascial margins and other surgically cut margins. If questions about the diagnosis arise, a second opinion should be sought from an expert in sarcoma pathology. Whenever possible, tissue should be frozen for potential molecular diagnosis and additional tissue banked for research. Finally, there is a need for a national registry for rare sarcoma types. Copyright © 2004 by Current Science Inc.