Principles for pathologic-anatomic diagnosis and classification of soft-tissue sarcomas.

Soft-tissue tumors are classified as frankly or potentially malignant, and as benign tumors and tumor-like lesions that can mimic soft-tissue sarcomas and other malignancies. Classification of soft-tissue sarcomas is based on knowledge or assumption of cell and tissue origin and differentiation. New principles and methods are used for the pathologic-anatomic diagnosis of these lesions. With increasing research on chromosomal aberrations and molecular biology, knowledge of the biology of soft-tissue sarcomas will grow, which in turn, will further revise current tumor classifications.