Prognostic factors of extremity soft tissue sarcoma in adults. A single institutional analysis

Purpose. - To analyse the prognostic factors for patients treated with limb sparing surgery and radiation for extremity soft tissue sarcoma (E-STS). Patients and methods. - Medical records of 87 patients with limb sparing surgery and radiation for E-STS were reviewed retrospectively. Disease-free survival ( DFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were estimated and factors potentially influencing these outcomes were analysed. Results. - With a mean follow-up of 69 months, most recurrences occurred within the first 2 years. Extent of resection margin was found to improve DFS (P = 0.002) and DSS (P = 0.002). Brachytherapy combined with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) improved DFS (P = 0.034) and DSS (P = 0.019). Tumor size (< 10 cm) was related to DSS (P = 0.043) and its relation to DFS was almost significant (P = 0.057). Short time interval between surgery and radiotherapy (<= 50 days) had an impact only on DSS (P = 0.030). Conclusion. - Extent of resection margin and use of brachytherapy combined with EBRT seem to improve the prognosis of E-STS. Small tumor size and short time interval between radiotherapy and surgery seem also to improve the outcome of E-STS. This study was limited by inadequate power and low number of recurrences. Larger randomised studies are needed to confirm these results. (c) 2012 Societe francaise de radiotherapie oncologique (SFRO). Published by Elsevier Masson SAS. All rights reserved.