It's Giving Tuesday! Double your impact and donate today.
Key Statistics for Soft Tissue Sarcomas
The American Cancer Society's estimates for soft tissue sarcomas in the United States for 2023 are:
- About 13,400 new soft tissue sarcomas will be diagnosed (7,400 in males and 6,000 in females).
- About 5,140 people (2,720 males and 2,420 females) are expected to die of soft tissue sarcomas.
These statistics include both adults and children.
The most common types of sarcoma in adults are:
- Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (previously called malignant fibrous histiocytoma)
- Liposarcoma
- Leiomyosarcoma
Certain types occur more often in certain parts of the body more often than others. For example, leiomyosarcomas are the most common type of sarcoma found in the abdomen (belly), while liposarcomas and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcomas are most common in legs. But pathologists (doctors who specialize in diagnosing cancers by how they look under the microscope), may not always agree on the exact type of sarcoma. Sarcomas of uncertain type are very common.
Visit the American Cancer Society’s Cancer Statistics Center for more key statistics.
- Written by
- References
The American Cancer Society medical and editorial content team
Our team is made up of doctors and oncology certified nurses with deep knowledge of cancer care as well as journalists, editors, and translators with extensive experience in medical writing.
American Cancer Society. Cancer Facts & Figures 2023. Atlanta, Ga: American Cancer Society; 2023.
Last Revised: January 12, 2023
American Cancer Society medical information is copyrighted material. For reprint requests, please see our Content Usage Policy.
Our lifesaving work is made possible thanks to generous supporters like you.
Donate now so we can continue to provide access to critical cancer information, resources, and support to improve lives of people with cancer and their families.
More in Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Help us end cancer as we know it, for everyone.
