THE LOCAL TREATMENT OF SOFT TISSUE SARCOMAS REQUIRING BONE RESECTION

Abstract

Purpose: Local resection with or without irradiation is the primary treatment modality of soft tissue sarcomas. Adequate surgical margin is required for local tumour control and avoiding local recurrence. Adjacent bone should be included into the resection plan if the tumour is in the close proximity of the bone or cortical and medullary tumour invasion was present. Reconstruction method depends on the location.

Methods: 25 patient (10 female, 15 male) with soft tissue sarcomas received local wide excision including adjacent bone between 1995–2007. Histological types were 3 MPNSTM, 3MFH, 10 Synovial sarcoma, 2 liposarcoma, 4 angiosarcoma, 2 fibrosarcoma, 1 Leiomyosarcoma. Localisations were 5 glutea, 9 thigh, 5 cruris, 1 forearm, 5 foot. In 8 patients with proximal bone resection including the joint surface prosthetic reconstruction were aplied. 6 Patients with intercalary resections required allograft reconstruction with I.M nail, 2 patients required autoclaved graft, 1 patient needed tricortical iliac autograft. 8 patients in the gluteal region required iliac and sacral resections without any bony reconstruction. 25 patient received irradiation. 16 of them had neoadjuant chemotherapy also.

Results: At mean 64 mo.s follow up (min11–max159). Mean age was 44, 5 (min 18–max 71). Oncologically 17 patients were NED, 1 AWD, 7 DOD (2 with local recurrence). Regarding complications 7 patients developed local recurrence, 2 patient developed infection, 2 patient had developed wound healing. 5 of 7 local recurrences were amputated. 2 of them died of the disease. 2 local recurrences could be re-resected. Delayed wound healing and infection occured in the patients received preoperative chemotherapy and irradiation.

Conclusion: If a large soft tissue sarcoma is in the close proximity of an adjacent bone or had cortical or medullary invasion, adjacent bone must be included in the resection plan so that a wide margin could be achieved. Reconstruction of the created bone defect in the weight bearing bone close to a major joint should be prosthetic reconstruction. Allograft reconstruction is recommended in the foot and upper extrimity. A thorough preoperative plan with appropriate imaging should be done and local resection should be performed precisely to achieve satisfactory wide margin which influences the both local and systemic outcome.