title: Surgical management of retroperitoneal sarcomas associated with external and intraoperative electron beam radiotherapy.
abstract: 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.
mesh_terms: 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*