The impact of previous surgical manipulation of subcutaneous sarcoma on oncologic outcome

We prospectively followed 106 consecutive patients referred for surgical treatment of nonmetastatic subcutaneous soft tissue sarcoma to assess whether prior surgical manipulation had an impact on local control and/or disease-free survival. 10 patients had no previous surgical treatment; 11 had only a previous biopsy, 75 had a previous attempted excision, and 10 were referred after the tumor had recurred locally. Histologic grade was inversely associated with overall survival and disease-free survival. Of the 75 patients with previous attempted excision, 22 (29%) had gross residual disease, 27 (36%) had microscopic residual disease, and 26 (35%) had no identifiable residual disease. The 5-year metastasis-free survival was 88%. Local control was obtained in 100% of patients without previous surgical manipulation, 89% of those with previous surgery, and 60% of those who were referred after a local relapse had been recognized. Cox proportional hazards analysis revealed that larger tumor size negatively impacted disease-free survival in those patients who were treated with previous attempted excision. Of those patients with tumors 4 cm or larger and a previous unplanned sarcoma excision, disease-free survival was lower than in those patients referred without previous attempted excision.

Prognostic study, Level I-2 (prospective study). See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.