Prognostic factors of extremity soft tissue sarcoma in adults. A single institutional analysis.

Abstract Purpose To analyse the prognostic factors for patients treated with limb sparing surgery and radiation for extremity soft tissue sarcoma (E-STS). Patients and methods Medical records of 87 patients with limb sparing surgery and radiation for E-STS were reviewed retrospectively. Disease-free survival (DFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS) were estimated and factors potentially influencing these outcomes were analysed. Results With a mean follow-up of 69 months, most recurrences occurred within the first 2 years. Extent of resection margin was found to improve DFS ( P  = 0.002) and DSS ( P  = 0.002). Brachytherapy combined with external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) improved DFS ( P  = 0.034) and DSS ( P  = 0.019). Tumor size ( P  = 0.043) and its relation to DFS was almost significant ( P  = 0.057). Short time interval between surgery and radiotherapy (≤ 50 days) had an impact only on DSS ( P  = 0.030). Conclusion Extent of resection margin and use of brachytherapy combined with EBRT seem to improve the prognosis of E-STS. Small tumor size and short time interval between radiotherapy and surgery seem also to improve the outcome of E-STS. This study was limited by inadequate power and low number of recurrences. Larger randomised studies are needed to confirm these results.