title: Percutaneous core needle biopsy in retroperitoneal sarcomas does not influence local recurrence or overall survival.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Tumours within the retroperitoneum can cause a diagnostic dilemma. A preoperative core needle biopsy often is required to establish a histological diagnosis. Preoperative core needle biopsy for extremity soft-tissue sarcoma is oncologically safe and biopsy site recurrence is extremely rare, attributed to placing the biopsy site within the planned resection field. This study investigates whether preoperative core needle biopsy affects oncological outcomes in retroperitoneal sarcomas.
  
  
  METHODS
  Patients undergoing resection of intermediate- and high-grade primary retroperitoneal sarcoma from 1990 until 2011 were included. Primary endpoints were immediate biopsy-related complications, local recurrence, and overall survival.
  
  
  RESULTS
  A total of 150 patients were included in the analysis. Of these, 90 patients underwent resection after a preoperative biopsy. Median follow-up was 48 months. One patient required hospital admission postbiopsy for an abdominal wall rectus sheath haematoma. No patient developed intra-abdominal complications that required hospitalisation or early operation related to core needle biopsy. No patient developed a biopsy site recurrence. There was no significant increase in either local recurrence (p = 0.101) or overall survival (p = 0.191) after core needle biopsy.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Preoperative core needle biopsy for retroperitoneal sarcomas is safe and does not affect oncological outcome.
authors.affiliation: Sarcoma Unit, Department of Surgery, Royal Marsden NHS Foundation Trust, London, UK.
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Wilkinson
authors.forename: J L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Martin
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Khan
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Hayes
authors.forename: J M
authors.initials: JM
authors.lastname: Thomas
authors.forename: D C
authors.initials: DC
authors.lastname: Strauss
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D062005:Biopsy, Large-Core Needle; D005260:Female; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D060787:Neoplasm Grading; D009364:Neoplasm Recurrence, Local / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D011379:Prognosis; D011446:Prospective Studies; D012186:Retroperitoneal Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000401:mortality* / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult