title: Primary and recurrent retroperitoneal sarcoma: factors affecting survival and long-term outcome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To analyze treatment and survival in a series of 39 patients with primary or recurrent retroperitoneal sarcoma treated and prospectively followed at a single institution.
  
  
  METHODS
  Between July 1994 and January 2002, 39 patients (20M, 19F; mean age: 56 years, range: 25-77) were evaluated.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Thirty-two out of 39 patients (82%) (18 were affected by primary retroperitoneal sarcoma, and 14 by recurrent retroperitoneal sarcoma), were submitted for resection. Twenty-four out of 32 patients (75%) underwent removal of contiguous intra-abdominal organs. Peroperative mortality was nil and significant peroperative complications occurred in 6 cases only (19%). High tumor grade results were a significant variable for a worse survival in all 32 patients (100% 5 years survival for low grade vs. 0% for high grade; P=0.0004). Among 27 radically resected patients, only histology gradeand peroperative blood transfusions affected survival (100% 5-year survival for low grade vs. 24% for high grade; P=0.003); (100% 5-year survival for nontransfused patients vs. 43% for transfused patients; P=0.03). Similar effects were noted for disease-free survival.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Histology grade and peroperative blood transfusions were the only factors which affected overall and disease-free survival. An aggressive surgical approach in both primary and recurrent retroperitoneal sarcoma is associated with long-term survival.
authors.affiliation: Department of General Surgery, European Institute of Oncology, University of Milan, Italy. antonio.chiappa@unimi.it
authors.forename: Antonio
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Chiappa
authors.forename: Andrew P
authors.initials: AP
authors.lastname: Zbar
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Biffi
authors.forename: Massimo
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Bellomi
authors.forename: Roberto
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Orecchia
authors.forename: Hugo
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Marsiglia
authors.forename: Emilio
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Bertani
authors.forename: Filippo
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: De Braud
authors.forename: Cristiano
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Crotti
authors.forename: Bruno
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Andreoni
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001803:Blood Transfusion; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009361:Neoplasm Invasiveness / Q000473:pathology; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012086:Reoperation; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate; D014781:Viscera / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery