title: [Retroperitoneal sarcomas: our experience].
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Retroperitoneal soft tissues sarcomas (STS) are relatively uncommon and constitute a difficult management problem. Although surgical resection is often difficult or impossible, current chemotherapy is not effective and radiation is limited by toxicity to adjacent structures. Thus, complete surgical resection remains the most effective modality for selected primary and recurrent disease.
  
  
  METHODS
  Fifteen patients with retroperitoneal STS were admitted and treated between January 1990 and January 2003, and prospectively followed. Nine patients underwent complete surgical resection of 8 malignant and 1 benign tumor. Two patients underwent incomplete surgical resection of 1 malignant and 1 benign tumor. Patient, tumor, and treatment variables were analyzed for disease-specific and disease-free survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The patients with unresectable disease, incomplete resection, and high-grade tumors presented significantly reduced survival time. In this study, stage at presentation, high histologic grade, unresectable primary tumor, and positive gross margin are strongly associated with the tumor mortality rate.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients approached with curative intent should undergo aggressive attempts at complete surgical resection. Incomplete resection should be undertaken only for symptoms relief. Because death often occurs as a result of local progression in retroperitoneal liposarcomas, it is possible that incomplete resection may be beneficial in this histologic type. Complete surgical resection is the most effective modality for the treatment of retroperitoneal sarcomas.
authors.affiliation: Università degli Studi di Cagliari, Dipartimento Chirurgico-Materno Infantile e Scienza delle Immagini.
authors.forename: G P
authors.initials: GP
authors.lastname: Farina
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Baccoli
authors.forename: C
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Pani
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Cagetti
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000601:surgery*
vernacular_title: Tumori dei tessuti molli a localizzazione retroperitoneale: la nostra esperienza clinica.