title: Soft tissue and visceral sarcomas in Irish patients. Interim analysis of data obtained by the Dublin Soft Tissue Tumour Panel.
abstract: The Dublin Soft Tissue Sarcoma Panel was established in 1989 with a view to achieving a unified approach to diagnosis and management of soft tissue and visceral sarcomas. This interim report presents data on 265 prospectively-evaluated patients and on a separate retrospective series of 126 patients. The patients in the prospective series were treated by 93 different surgical and medical specialists. Tumours presented in all anatomic sites and ranged in size from 0.2 to 60 cm. Leiomyosarcoma was the commonest tumour type. Eighty-nine tumours were inoperable at clinical presentation. There was a consensus panel diagnosis in over 90%, non-neoplastic reactive lesions and primitive round cell tumours being the most difficult cases diagnostically. Management, including onward referral for chemotherapy or radiation therapy, was inconsistent. The 2-year survival figures were: 43% (1989-91) and 37% (1980-88). These findings should provide a basis for the evaluation of coherent treatment strategies for Irish sarcoma patients.
authors.affiliation: Department of Histopathology, St. James's Hospital, Dublin, Ireland.
authors.forename: E F
authors.initials: EF
authors.lastname: Gaffney
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Dervan
authors.forename: M M
authors.initials: MM
authors.lastname: McCabe
authors.forename: K
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Sheahan
authors.forename: E W
authors.initials: EW
authors.lastname: Kay
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Leader
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Doyle
authors.forename: P A
authors.initials: PA
authors.lastname: Daly
authors.forename: J J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Fennelly
authors.forename: D N
authors.initials: DN
authors.lastname: Carney
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D003627:Data Interpretation, Statistical; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007494:Ireland / Q000453:epidemiology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000145:classification / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000628:therapy; D014781:Viscera