[Factors for recurrence of primary retroperitoneal sarcoma: analysis of 77 cases]

To explore the factors influencing the recurrence of retroperitoneal sarcoma.

The clinical data of 77 patients with primary retroperitoneal sarcoma who were treated with surgery between Jan 1980 and Dec 2005 and followed up for 45.7 months (3.6 - 180.4 months), 36 males and 41 females, aged 49 (24 - 75).

57 cases developed local recurrence and 3 had metastases after surgery. The overall recurrence rate was 74%. The median time between initial surgery and recurrence was 14.8 months (3.2 - 99.6 months). 27 patients died of sarcoma and 5 die of other reasons. The median survival time was 42.5 months (3.6 - 180.4 months). The overall 5-year and 10-year survival rates were 61.7% and 43.9% respectively, and the 5-year and 10-year relapse-free survival rates were 22.7% and 16.8% respectively. Univariate analysis showed that incomplete tumor resection and high-grade tumor were associated with the increased local recurrence rate (P = 0.0008 and P = 0.018). Cox multivariate analysis showed that the only factor found to decrease the risk of local recurrence was complete tumor resection (P = 0.001).

Complete surgical resection at the time of primary tumor presentation affords the best chance for local control. Patients with high-grade tumor should on the alert for local relapse after surgery.