Localized, Operable Soft Tissue Sarcoma of the Lower Extremity

Surgery for soft tissue sarcoma in the extremities: A multivariate analysis of the 6–26-year prognosis in 137 patients

“…We also excluded the patients who had been referred with local recurrence after previous surgery. A restriction to radical and wide local operations has not been done in previous studies analyzing the influence of diagnostic procedures on the risk of local recurrence (Collin et al 1986, Alho et al 1989). …”

“…To promote the understanding of this problem, long-term followup studies of the results of various modes of treatment by multivariate statistical analysis are needed to disclose factors of independent prognostic importance (Kindblom et al 1975, Markhede et al 1982, Merck et al 1983). Multivariate statistical analyses have shown the histologic malignancy grade, patient age, tumor size, the occurrence of local recurrence, and the surgical treatment to be of major prognostic importance (Collin et al 1986, 1987, Heise et al 1986, Kindblom et al 1975, Markhede et al 1982, Merck et al 1983, Rydholm et al 1984, Rooser et al 1987.…”

Diagnosis and Management of Soft-Tissue Sarcomas

“…Younger patients with fibrosarcomas and liposarcomas appear to do better than do older patients. While age does not have a significant impact on the natural history of the tumour [19], there does appear to be a direct correlation between increasing age and the risk of local recurrence [5].…”

“…Size is also an important parameter, especially when combined with the site ofthe tumour, for example in the head and neck or retroperitoneal lesions. The size of the tumour also limits the effectiveness of radiotherapy [5]. Involvement of the lymphatics, although rare, is a poor prognostic factor and occurs with a higher frequency in epithelioid sarcomas [16].…”

“…About 40% of soft-tissue sarcomas arise in the lower part of the body and about 75% ofthese are at or above the knee [5]. Ten percent of all sarcomas arise in the upper part of the body [6].…”