Intra-abdominal metastases in musculoskeletal sarcomas

This study examined the incidence, histological type, clinical symptoms, and prognosis in patients with intra-abdominal metastases of musculoskeletal sarcomas. The medical records of 505 patients with musculoskeletal sarcomas were reviewed for examples of intra-abdominal metastases. The incidence of intra-abdominal metastases (excluding lung) was: 4% in the liver (20 patients), 1.2% in gastrointestine (6 patients), 0.8% in pancreas (4 patients), and 0.8% on the peritoneal surface (4 patients). Patients with a previous hisory of lung metastases and those with high-grade liposarcoma tended to show metastasis in the intra-abdominal organs. Most patients with liver metastasis had no symptoms. Patients with gastrointestinal metastasis had abdominal pain, anemia, and melena. Patients with pancreatic metastasis had diabetes and jaundice. Six patients underwent surgical treatment, and two of them survived for more than 2 years. Metastases within the abdomen must be considered as a possible site for dissemination of musculoskeletal sarcomas, especially in patients with advanced disease and those with liposarcoma.