The authors have attempted to explore the factors that influence the clinical course of a patient with a soft tissue tumor of the extremity (local recurrence, distant metastasis, and survival) by reviewing the literature as well as the cases at their institution. Do histology, site (proximal extremity versus distal extremity), age, or treatment significantly influence the natural history of the disease?
As regards to treatment, the following questions must be answered. (1) Should the affected extremity be preserved? (2) Does the extent of local treatment really effect the likelihood of these tumors to disseminate? (3) Should ancillary local treatment such as radiation therapy be used and in what fashion? (4) If extremity‐saving techniques were found to be of equal value to amputation, what is the quality of survival in a patient with a compromised extremity (wide excision and irradiation), and would amputation with rehabilitation provide equal or better survival quality?