An Update on Non-extremity Soft Tissue Sarcomas

Abstract

The management of soft tissue sarcoma is challenging and varied. Centralisation of management in high volume specialist centres has revolutionised outcomes. Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment and is currently the only potentially curative therapy. Retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma presents a particular challenge to the surgical oncologist and the concept of extended resection to include surrounding expendable organs taken en bloc with the tumour has now largely been adopted. The use of neoadjuvant and adjuvant therapies for retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma is still to be established, although they are employed on a case-specific basis. Guidance on the management of retroperitoneal recurrences and distant metastatic disease is now recognised. The approach to soft tissue sarcoma of the head and neck, trunk and abdominal wall remains largely extrapolated from experience of the management of extremity soft tissue sarcoma. Secondary angiosarcoma of the breast is becoming increasingly more common and presents a particular therapeutic challenge. Continued international collaboration is essential to ensure evolution of the optimal management of this rare group of cancers.