title: Long-term prognosis of primary retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the result of treatment and long-term outcome of a population-based cohort of patients with retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma (RSTS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Between 1 January 1989 and 1 January 1994, 143 patients diagnosed as having primary RSTS were selected from a national pathology database (PALGA) in the Netherlands. In this population-based group of patients, the result of surgery, overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were analysed as well as factors affecting OS and DFS. Median follow-up was 10.2 years.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Operative treatment resulted in a complete tumour resection in 55% of the patients (n=78), low- and intermediate-grade tumours were more often completely resected than high-grade tumours (P=0.016). Five- and 10-year cumulative OS was 39% and 21%, respectively, while DFS was 22% and 17%, respectively. In a multivariate analysis low malignancy grade (P=0.017) and a complete tumour resection (P<0.001) were associated with better OS.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Complete tumour resection and low malignancy grade were independent favourable prognosticators. However, these factors were related too, since surgical success was influenced by malignancy grade.
authors.affiliation: Members of Dutch Soft Tissue Sarcoma Group, PO Box 19079, 3501 DB Utrecht, The Netherlands. thijsvandalen@hccnet.nl
authors.forename: Th
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: van Dalen
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Plooij
authors.forename: F
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: van Coevorden
authors.forename: A N
authors.initials: AN
authors.lastname: van Geel
authors.forename: H J
authors.initials: HJ
authors.lastname: Hoekstra
authors.forename: Ch
authors.initials: Ch
authors.lastname: Albus-Lutter
authors.forename: P J
authors.initials: PJ
authors.lastname: Slootweg
authors.forename: A
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Hennipman
authors.lastname: Dutch Soft Tissue Sarcoma Group
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D018572:Disease-Free Survival; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D011159:Population Surveillance; D011379:Prognosis; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012307:Risk Factors; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000453:epidemiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000532:radiotherapy / Q000601:surgery; D015996:Survival Rate / Q000639:trends; D013997:Time Factors