Background: The survival of patients with retroperitoneal sarcomas depends on the feasibility of complete resection and the grade of the tumor. Hypothesis: A high rate of complete resection, wide rather than local excision when feasible, and a policy of prompt reoperation for local recurrence all improve survival. Methods: A review of 130 consecutive patients with retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas (1977-2001). Results: The complete resectability rate was 95%, being 99% (78/79) for the primary tumors and 90% (46/51) for tumors referred with local recurrence. Local recurrence after complete resection occurred in 41% (32/79) of those with primary tumors and in 61% (31/51) of those referred with local recurrence (P=.06). The local recurrence rate was 63% after local excision and 39% after wide resection (P=.02). Of 83 patients with relapse, 37 (45%) were rendered surgically disease free. The estimated 5-year (10-year in parentheses) survival from the first surgery at our center was 65% (56%) for patients with primary tumors and 53% (34%) for patients referred with local recurrence (P=.23). For the primary tumors, the 5-and 10-year survival rates were 70% and60%,respectively,afterwideresectionand47%and39%, respectively, after local excision (P=.04). For the primary tumors,the5-yearsurvivalwas92%,54%,and48%forgrades I, II, and III, respectively (P=.02). For those referred with local recurrence, the figures were 76%, 45%, and 19% for grades I, II, and III, respectively (PϽ.001). Conclusions: A high resectability rate (95%) is possible in retroperitoneal sarcomas. The survival estimates are similar to those following resection of extremity soft tissue sarcomas given an effective reoperation policy for local recurrences. Wide resection lowers the local recurrence and improves survival significantly. Survival varies significantly according to the grade of the tumor.

As part of a larger survey of the membership of the Association of Women Surgeons, data were collected to characterize the participation of women in academic surgery and surgical education. Of the 1500 members, 676 (45%) responded, and 318 of these respondents held a faculty appointment. Two hundred thirty-nine of the respondents' practices were based in a university or university-affiliated hospital. This sample was biased toward more academically motivated, upwardly mobile surgeons. Two hundred thirty-six of the respondents believed policies relating to tenure are unfair to women. Four hundred fifty-three respondents reported having role models at some point in their career, half of whom were men. However, only 204 still had access to role models or mentors at the time of the survey. Six hundred thirty respondents believed that female medical students need successful female surgeons as role models.

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