title: Radiation-induced sarcoma: analysis of 46 cases.
abstract: A retrospective analysis was performed of 46 cases of sarcoma treated in our institution between 1989 and 2007 that occurred in a previously irradiated area. Eight male and 38 female patients had received radiotherapy, mainly for breast cancer and genitourinary tumours. The interval between irradiation and the diagnosis of sarcoma ranged from 1 to 54 years (median 15 y). The most common clinical findings were a mass, pain and skin dislocation. Angiosarcoma and sarcoma non-otherwise-specified were the most common histological types. Surgical resection was performed in 34 patients (74%) and 5-year survival was 45% when a radical resection was obtained. No 5-year survival was noticed after non-radical resection and in the absence of surgery. Stage and location of the sarcoma were other prognostic factors. Overall 5-year survival was 27% for the whole group.
authors.affiliation: Department of Surgical Oncology, Leuven University Hospital, Leuven, Belgium.
authors.forename: S
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: De Smet
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Vandermeeren
authors.forename: M-R
authors.initials: MR
authors.lastname: Christiaens
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: Samson
authors.forename: M
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Stas
authors.forename: E
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Van Limbergen
authors.forename: I
authors.initials: I
authors.lastname: De Wever
mesh_terms: D000008:Abdominal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D005121:Extremities; D005260:Female; D006258:Head and Neck Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D006801:Humans; D008175:Lung Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009381:Neoplasms, Radiation-Induced / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D010386:Pelvic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D013899:Thoracic Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D055815:Young Adult