Long-term outcome in 87 patients with low-grade soft-tissue sarcoma.
OBJECTIVE
To describe the long-term clinical outcome of patients with low-grade soft-tissue sarcoma and identify factors that may predict or determine their prognosis.


METHODS
Retrospective chart review with multivariate analysis.


METHODS
Large research hospital and referral center.


METHODS
All patients treated between 1975 and 1990 at the National Cancer Institute (Bethesda, Md) who had a confirmed diagnosis of low-grade soft-tissue sarcoma.


METHODS
Surgery and radiation therapy.


METHODS
Local recurrence and overall survival.


RESULTS
For patients with nonretroperitoneal lesions, overall survival was excellent, with a history of recurrence, a positive surgical margin, and an absence of adjuvant radiation therapy significantly associated with increased risks of local recurrence. Patients with retroperitoneal lesions not only had an increased risk of local recurrence, but significantly poorer overall survival.


CONCLUSIONS
Low-grade soft-tissue sarcomas are associated with excellent overall survival, especially those confined to nonretroperitoneal sites. The risk of local recurrence after resection with negative margins and/or adjuvant radiation therapy is very low and most recurrences can be controlled with further therapy.
Marcus
S G
SG
Surgery Branch, National Cancer Institute, Bethesda, Md.
Merino
M J
MJ
Glatstein
E
E
DeLaney
T F
TF
Steinberg
S M
SM
Rosenberg
S A
SA
Yang
J C
JC
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002423:Cause of Death; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008485:Medical Audit; D008875:Middle Aged; D015999:Multivariate Analysis; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000453:epidemiology*; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D016016:Proportional Hazards Models; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate; D013997:Time Factors; D016896:Treatment Outcome