Surgical management of retroperitoneal sarcomas associated with external and intraoperative electron beam radiotherapy.
OBJECTIVE
To report outcomes of adults with retroperitoneal sarcoma (RS) treated by surgery, external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) and intraoperative electron beam radiotherapy (IORT).


METHODS
From July 1988 to February 2001; 24 patients with primary and recurrent RS were diagnosed and treated. The median dose and energy of IORT delivered was 15 Gy/9meV. EBRT dose varies between 45-50 Gy.


RESULTS
There were five primary and 19 recurrent tumours. One primary and five recurrent tumours underwent R0 resection. There were 12 liposarcomas and 19 grade I tumours; 13 patients developed local recurrence and three developed distant metastases.Twenty-two patients received IORT associated with EBRT: 11 developed recurrences. Six patients developed Neurotoxicity (4 grade II and 2 grade III). Disease free survival and overall survival at 5 years was 28 and 56% respectively.


CONCLUSIONS
EBRT with IORT treatment is a promising technique for local control. Lower recurrence rates are associated with radical (R0) surgical procedures.
D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007432:Intraoperative Period; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000517:prevention & control*; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant / Q000379:methods*; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*