title: Lymphadenectomy for isolated lymph node metastasis from extremity soft-tissue sarcomas.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Previous studies have suggested that the prognosis in patients with extremity soft-tissue sarcomas (ESTS) with isolated lymph node (LN) metastases (stage IV) is comparable to that of patients with high-risk ESTS without metastases (stage III). This study was performed to determine the outcomes of patients who underwent aggressive therapy, including lymphadenectomy in patients with LN metastasis from ESTS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographic details, pathology of the primary disease, timing of LN metastasis, and details of the multimodality treatment were obtained from the medical records of 35 patients with nodal metastasis from ESTS who were treated between 1981 and 2003. Survival after the diagnosis of primary disease and LN metastasis was compared with established historical outcomes for patients with American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) stages III and IV ESTS.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Epithelioid sarcomas (23%) and malignant fibrous histiocytomas (23%) were the most common primary histologic types. Twenty (57%) patients presented with synchronous nodal metastasis. Median follow-up from the time of diagnosis of lymph node metastasis was 48.5 months. The 1-year, 2-year, and 5-year actuarial survival rates in patients with synchronous nodal metastasis after lymphadenectomy and additional therapy were 79%, 62%, and 52%, respectively. In comparison, the 1-year, 2-year, and 5-year actuarial survival rates in patients with metachronous nodal metastasis after lymphadenectomy and additional therapy were 100%, 95%, and 66%, respectively.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with isolated regional lymph node metastases who are treated with aggressive approaches, including regional LN dissection, may experience prolonged survival similar to that which more closely approximates the survival seen in patients with stage III disease (5-year survival rate, 50%) rather than the survival seen in patients with stage IV disease (5-year survival rate, 25%). These data lend support for reconsideration of the current AJCC staging system for ESTS.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas M. D. Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, Texas 77203-1402, USA.
authors.forename: Waddah B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Al-Refaie
authors.forename: Robert H I
authors.initials: RH
authors.lastname: Andtbacka
authors.forename: Joe
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Ensor
authors.forename: Peter W T
authors.initials: PW
authors.lastname: Pisters
authors.forename: Tammy L
authors.initials: TL
authors.lastname: Ellis
authors.forename: Anita
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Shrout
authors.forename: Kelly K
authors.initials: KK
authors.lastname: Hunt
authors.forename: Janice N
authors.initials: JN
authors.lastname: Cormier
authors.forename: Raphael E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Pollock
authors.forename: Barry W
authors.initials: BW
authors.lastname: Feig
mesh_terms: D000206:Actuarial Analysis; D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D051677:Histiocytoma, Malignant Fibrous / Q000556:secondary / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D035002:Lower Extremity / Q000473:pathology*; D008197:Lymph Node Excision / Q000379:methods*; D008207:Lymphatic Metastasis / Q000473:pathology*; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D020360:Neoadjuvant Therapy; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D018714:Radiotherapy, Adjuvant; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000556:secondary* / Q000601:surgery; D015996:Survival Rate; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D034941:Upper Extremity / Q000473:pathology*