The Value of Surgery for Retroperitoneal Sarcoma

Abstract EN

Retroperitoneal sarcomas are uncommon large malignant tumors.

Methods.

Forty-one consecutive patients with localized retroperitoneal sarcoma were retrospectively studied.

Results.

Median age was 58 years (range 20–91 years).

Median tumor size was 17.5 cm (range 4–41 cm).

Only 2 tumors were <5 cm.

Most were liposarcoma (44%) and high-grade (59%).

59% were stage 3 and the rest was stage 1.

Median followup was 10 months (range 1–106 months).

Thirty-eight patients had an initial complete resection; 15 (37%) developed recurrent sarcoma and 12 (80%) had a second complete resection.

Patients with an initial complete resection had a 5-year survival of 46%.

For all patients, tumor grade affected overall survival (P=.006).

Complete surgical resection improved overall survival for high-grade tumors (P=.03).

Conclusions.

Tumor grade/stage and complete surgical resection for high-grade tumors are important prognostic variables.

Radiation therapy or chemotherapy had no significant impact on overall or recurrence-free survival.

Complete surgical resection is the treatment of choice for patients with initial and locally recurrent retroperitoneal sarcoma.