[Sarcomas of the bone and soft tissue: general observations].

The term sarcomas regroups a large variety of malignant tumors originating from the mesenchymal tissues, which represent only 1% of cancers, with a higher relative frequency in children. Whether bone or soft tissue tumors, their preeminent general evolutive characteristics are a high local aggressiveness and a high frequency of hematogenic metastatic diffusion, with a predilection for pulmonary involvement. An improved knowledge of the natural history of sarcomas has led to a better definition of multidisciplinary therapeutical protocols for each particular disease.