Intraarterial chemotherapy plus surgery in patients with extremity soft tissue sarcoma

Purpose To evaluate the clinical therapeutic results of intraarterial chemotherapy plus surgery on patients with extremity soft tissue sarcoma. Methods From 1997 to 2000,18 patients with extremity soft tissue sarcoma were treated with intraarterial chemotherapy preoperatively plus surgery two weeks later.Of them,11 cases(61%) were confirmed to be adherent to the major vessels and nerves nearby by ultrasonics and CT scan.After the treatment,the limb preserving resction was achieved successfully,which does not substantially interfere with the function of the extremity. esults The size of tumor on all patients decreased gradually with a remarkable necrosis of the cells and the less invasive edge between tumor,vessel and nerve was obtained,which led to a sound limb preserving resction with their function. Conclusions The use of intraarterial chemotherapy plus surgery is an ideal approach upon extremity soft tissue sarcoma patients for limb preserving resection.