Surgical procedures and prognostic factors for local recurrence of soft tissue sarcomas

Abstract

BackgroundPatients with local recurrence of soft tissue sarcomas are predisposed to future recurrences because treatment is challenging and complicated by prior therapy. This study investigated clinical outcomes following surgical procedures for locally recurrent soft tissue sarcomas and risk factors for re-recurrence and metastasis. MethodsA retrospective analysis was conducted with 105 patients (52 males, 53 females) who underwent surgical procedures for local recurrence without distant metastasis of soft tissue sarcoma between 1987 and 2009. Patient follow-up ranged from 1 to 12 years (mean 4.9 years). ResultsOverall 5- and 10-year survival rates were 83.4 and 67.7 %, respectively. Twenty-one patients (20.0 %) had additional local recurrences, and 23 (21.9 %) had distant metastases. Amputation rate was 10.5 % at the time of surgical procedures and 17.1 % at final follow-up. Locations deep within muscles in the upper limb or trunk and surgical margins <1 cm wide were risk factors for further local recurrence. Locations deep within muscles, tumor sizes >10 cm, high-grade malignancy, and local recurrence after radical surgery were risk factors for distant metastasis. ConclusionsSurgical margin and location were independent prognostic factors for local control, and a wider margin was especially important for recurrent tumors located in the trunk and upper extremity. For high-grade sarcomas with local recurrence after radical surgery, new approaches are needed to prevent distant metastases.