Paper accepted for publication 7th March 2005 Background: Soft tissue sarcomas are rare tumours in this environment. Recently, an INTRODUCTION upsurge in frequency was noticed that called for Soft tissues develop embryologically from attention. The aim of this study is to study soft two primitive sources (the mesoderm and the tissue sarcomas based on age, sex of patients, neuroectoderm of the peripheral nervous 1 tumour sites and histologic types. system) . They are complex malignancies of Methodology: A 14 year retrospective study in non-epithelial and extra-skeletal tissues of the University of Port Harcourt Teaching Hospital body, excluding the supportive tissues of (UPTH) Port Harcourt. Histological slides various organs, hematopoietic, lymphoid and 2 previously processed and stained with glial tissue . They are therefore represented by hematoxylin and eosin stains (H & E) were malignancies of the adipose, fibrous, muscular, reviewed and re-evaluated. Special stains were vascular, peripheral nerve sheath and those of also used for proper diagnosis of some uncertain histiogenesis corresponding with the tumours. The tumours were classified based on World Health organization (WHO) classification 3 World Health Organization (WHO) of soft tissue tumours . The aetiology is classification of soft tissue tumours.unknown but tends to be associated with Results: Only 66 soft tissue sarcomas were urbanization with overcrowding, fumes and used for this study which accounted for 2.8% of emission from motor vehicles and industrial the total malignancies diagnosed during the machines. Others are industrial waste period under review. The youngest was a 3 year containing large quantities of polycyclic old girl while the eldest was a 76 year old aromatic hydrocarbons, agricultural and female. A total of 38 and 28 tumours were agroallied chemicals, extravasated thorotrasts, diagnosed in males and females respectively, irradiation, chemical and heat burns as well as giving a sex ratio of 1.4:1. Rhabdomyosarcoma trauma in addition to oncogenic viruses, genetic 2,4 was most frequent (39.4%) while the least was predisposition and immunosuppression . leiomyosarcoma (1.5%). These tumours are Soft tissue sarcomas are distributed into the more frequent in the under 20 years (22.7%) deep soft tissues of the extremities, trunk, 5