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Background Sarcomas require a wide margin of resection including a cuff of normal tissue to minimize the risk of local recurrence. The amount of tissue that constitutes a wide margin is unclear in the literature. Questions/purposes We therefore determined whether a close resection margin for soft tissue sarcoma resulted in an increased incidence of locally recurrent disease and whether additional factors, including radiation therapy, outside biopsies, and tumor biology, affected the risk of local recurrence. Methods We retrospectively reviewed 117 patients with soft tissue sarcomas resected with negative margins from 2001 to 2007. Gross specimens were inked and the closest macroscopic margins were sent for microscopic examination. Resection margins were categorized as less than 1 mm, 1-5 mm, or greater than 5 mm. We evaluated additional factors that might influence local recurrence, including radiation therapy, outside biopsies, sarcoma type, grade, and stage at presentation, and development of metastatic disease.

Background Although preoperative radiation followed by wide local excision yields excellent local control in soft tissue sarcomas, the risk of wound complications is reported to be higher compared with the incidence in patients who were administered postoperative radiation therapy. Vacuum (vac)-assisted closure may improve wound healing, but it is unknown whether vac-assisted closure during soft tissue sarcoma resection may reduce the risk of wound complications or impair local disease control. Questions/purposes (1) Does the use of a wound vac application at the time of soft tissue sarcoma resection reduce the risk of developing wound complications after lower extremity sarcoma resection? (2) Is vac-assisted closure associated with an increased risk of local relapse? Methods From 2000 to 2016, 312 patients with stage I to III soft tissue sarcomas were treated. Of these, 123 were treated with preoperative radiation 6 chemotherapy followed by limb-sparing resection based on tumor location, size, grade, histology, and patient age. There was a minimum followup of 12 months. Radiation was delivered generally based on tumor size, grade, superficial versus deep nature, and proximity to neurovascular structures. Chemotherapy was administered in patients < 70 years old with high-grade tumors and tumors > 5 cm. Patient, demographic, and treatment variables, including incisional vac application and wound outcomes, were retrospectively evaluated. Incisional vac-assisted closure took place at the time of primary resection in 32% (46 of 123) of patients. Vac-assisted closure was considered when there was a concern for risk of external contamination such as instances in which fixation of adhesives would be difficult or regions where there was a high risk of contamination. Vac-assisted closure may have also been used in instances with increased wound tension at closure or with heightened concern for shearing on the wound such as buttock wounds. Ten patients were lost to followup, two in the vac group and eight in the non-vac group. Potential factors associated with wound complications were evaluated using Fisher's exact test for univariate analysis and logistic regression for multivariate analysis. Local recurrence-free survival was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier estimate. Results After taking into consideration factors such as tumor size, location, age, and patient comorbidities, it was shown that patients who underwent vac-assisted closure were less likely to experience wound complications One or more of the authors (DAH, JCN) is on the Board of the Musculoskeletal Transplant Foundation, outside the submitted work. Clinical Orthopaedics and Related Research® neither advocates nor endorses the use of any treatment, drug, or device. Readers are encouraged to always seek additional information, including FDA approval status, of any drug or device before clinical use. Each author certifies that his or her institution approved the human protocol for this investigation and that all investigations were conducted in conformity with...

Background. The management for unplanned excision (UE) of soft tissue sarcomas (STS) has not been established. In this study, we compare outcomes of UE versus planned excision (PE) and determine an optimal treatment for UE in STS. Methods. From 2000 to 2014 a review was performed on all patients treated with localized STS. Clinical outcomes including local recurrence-free survival (LRFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier estimate. Univariate (UVA) and multivariate (MVA) analyses were performed to determine prognostic variables. For MVA, Cox proportional hazards model was used. Results. 245 patients were included in the analysis. 14% underwent UE. Median follow-up was 2.8 years. The LR rate was 8.6%. The LR rate in UE was 35% versus 4.2% in PE patients (p < 0.0001). 2-year PFS in UE versus PE patients was 4.2 years and 9.3 years, respectively (p = 0.08). Preoperative radiation (RT) (p = 0.01) and use of any RT for UE (p = 0.003) led to improved PFS. On MVA, preoperative RT (p = 0.04) and performance status (p = 0.01) led to improved PFS. Conclusions. UEs led to decreased LC and PFS versus PE in patients with STS. The use of preoperative RT followed by reexcision improved LC and PFS in patients who had UE of their STS.

Level III, diagnostic study. See Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Percutaneous biopsies allow for precise diagnosis in soft tissue sarcomas and have a low rate of complications. However, it is unknown whether biopsies performed in a community setting lead to higher rates of wound complications at the time of resection. The goal of this study was to determine whether percutaneous biopsies performed at a sarcoma center have lower rates of wound complications compared with those performed in the community setting. A total of 125 patients with soft tissue sarcomas were treated with neoadjuvant radiation followed by limb-sparing resection. Of these, 92 underwent percutaneous biopsy. Patient, demographic, and treatment variables and postoperative wound complications were reviewed. Predictors of wound complications were evaluated with Fisher's exact test for univariate analysis and with logistic regression for multivariate analysis. The wound complication rate was 27% for open or percutaneous biopsies. When only percutaneous biopsies were assessed, the wound complication rate was 25%. The wound complication rate for percutaneous biopsies was 18% when the biopsy was performed at the authors' sarcoma center and 46% when the biopsy was performed in the community setting (P=.01). The Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events grade 4 wound complication rate was 73% in patients who underwent percutaneous biopsy at a community hospital vs 14% in those who underwent percutaneous biopsy at the authors' sarcoma center (P=.005). Multivariate analysis showed that lower-extremity soft tissue sarcomas (P=.03) and biopsies performed in the community setting (P=.01) had an increased rate of postoperative wound complications. Percutaneous biopsies performed at community hospitals had an increased incidence of grade 4 postoperative wound toxicity compared with biopsies done at tertiary centers. These wound results confirmed previous recommendations that biopsy of soft tissue sarcomas should be performed at an experienced sarcoma center.

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BackgroundNeoadjuvant radiotherapy (NRT) is an effective strategy to treat soft tissue sarcomas (STS). However, the role of neoadjuvant chemoradiotherapy (NCRT) remains to be determined.MethodsFrom May 1999 to July 2010, 112 patients with localized STS of the extremity and trunk who were treated with NRT or NCRT followed by surgery were retrospectively reviewed. Clinical outcomes including overall survival (OS), disease-free survival (DFS), and distant metastasis free survival (DMFS) were calculated using Kaplan-Meier survival analyses. Prognostic variables were determined by univariate (UVA) and multivariate analyses (MVA).ResultsMedian follow-up was 37 months. Median RT dose was 50 Gy. Forty-nine patients received NCRT. Overall limb-preservation rate was 99% and local control was 97%. The estimated 3-year OS, DFS, and DMFS were 86%, 68%, and 72%, respectively. Age was the only variable to predict for OS, DFS and DMFS on UVA. Age ≥ 70 predicted for poor OS, stage III disease predicted for poor DFS and DMFS, and the addition of chemotherapy predicted for improved DMFS on MVA.ConclusionsExcellent rates of local control and limb-preservation were observed in patients with primary STS treated with neoadjuvant therapy followed by surgery. Neoadjuvant sequential chemotherapy followed by radiotherapy may be considered for young patients with stage III STS.