title: Local control and survival in patients with soft tissue sarcomas treated with limb sparing surgery in combination with interstitial brachytherapy and external radiation.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate local control, survival and complication rate after treatment of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) with limb-sparing surgery combined with pulsed-dose rate (PDR) interstitial brachytherapy (BRT) and external beam radiotherapy (EBRT).
  
  
  METHODS
  A retrospective review of 39 adult patients (female/male=25/14, mean age 51(range 21-78) years) with STS who underwent primary limb-sparing surgery combined with PDR BRT (20Gy) and additional post-operative EBRT (50Gy) during the years 1995-2004.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Five patients developed local recurrence after a mean follow-up of 3.4 (1.5-5.9) years. The probability of local recurrence free 5 years survival was 83%. At the time of follow-up 10 patients had died (mean follow-up 2.3 (0.8-7.1) years) and 29 patients were still alive (mean follow-up 5.9 (2.1-11.2) years). The overall 5-year survival rate was 76%. Nineteen (49%) patients suffered from some degree of decreased force or function of the affected extremity, 16 (41%) suffered from oedema, 12 (31%) had persistent pain, 8 (21%) suffered from wound complications, and in 4 (10%) of these patients plastic surgery were required.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Limb sparing surgery, combined with PDR BRT and EBRT can result in good local control in patients with soft tissue sarcomas. BRT is an effective modality with good cosmetic results and acceptable toxicity.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiation Oncology, Copenhagen University Hospital, Rigshospitalet, Denmark. aida.muhic@rh.regionh.dk
authors.forename: Aida
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Muhic
authors.forename: Dorrit
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hovgaard
authors.forename: Michael
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Mørk Petersen
authors.forename: Søren
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Daugaard
authors.forename: Birthe
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Højlund Bech
authors.forename: Henrik
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Roed
authors.forename: Flemming
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Kjaer-Kristoffersen
authors.forename: Svend
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Aage Engelholm
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001918:Brachytherapy / Q000379:methods* / Q000401:mortality; D003131:Combined Modality Therapy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000532:radiotherapy* / Q000601:surgery*; D015996:Survival Rate