Increasing incidence rates of soft tissue sarcomas (STS) have been reported. In the present study the authors have analysed the incidence of STS in Austria in a population-based study for the period 1984–2004 in comparison with seven international studies.

Age-adjusted incidence rates, gender- and age-predilection and geographic differences were analysed, comprising data from the Austrian National Cancer Registry, including all cases of STS in Austria between 1984 and 2004.

A total of 5333 cases was registered, male to female ratio was 0.8. The most common histotypes were sarcoma NOS (36%), leiomyosarcoma (24%), liposarcoma (12%), malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) (9%) and fibrosarcoma (5%). Age-adjusted incidence rate was 2.4 per 100,000 per year. Analysis of annual incidence rates and three-year-periods showed no increasing trend (annual increasing gradient = −0.0025).

This study analysed the most recent data from a European population in comparison with seven other studies. An increase of incidence of STS as postulated elsewhere could not be confirmed. The incidence rate of STS in Austria (2.4 per 100 000 per year) ranges in the lower half of international incidence rates (1.8–5.0 per 100 000 per year). Different inclusion criteria (Kaposi’s sarcoma and dermatofibrosarcoma) and classificationsin the various studies could be seen. These findings are more likely to cause the increase of incidence in some studies than true increase of STS due to new or accumulated risk factors.