[Abdominal sarcomas--rare tumors requiring multidisciplinary approach. Evaluation of surgical management in a sarcoma...

Retroperitoneal sarcomas and gastrointestinal stromal tumors are rare malignant tumors with a high recurrence rate. Due to their localization, and to the fact that they give rise to non-specific symptoms, these tumors are usually large at diagnosis. From 1990 to 1998 thirty-one patients (16 men and 15 women, mean age 45 years; range 15-77 years) went through surgical treatment. Patients were evaluated by a team consisting of an oncologist, a pathologist, a radiologist and a surgeon both pre- and postoperatively. Forty-five operations were performed (23 for primary tumors and 22 for recurrences). The resectability and radical resection rate were 89% and 59% respectively in primary tumors (4 patients with benign histological diagnoses were excluded) and 68% and 47% respectively in local recurrences. Other organs were removed in 50% of the procedures. Vascular and orthopedic surgeons participated when necessary. Morbidity and in-hospital mortality were 18% and 7% respectively. The overall recurrence rate was 70%. It is our belief that a multidisciplinary approach is mandatory for optimal treatment in these patients.