Histologic grade predicts recurrence for marginally excised canine subcutaneous soft tissue sarcomas

Local recurrence of marginally excised subcutaneous soft tissue sarcomas is variable and difficult to predict. This study aimed to identify predictors of local recurrence after excisional biopsy. Medical records of 236 dogs from which tumors had been received between 2004 and 2007 were analyzed. Medium- to large-breed dogs, median age 10 years, were most commonly affected. A total of 139 tumors were graded histologically: 71 were grade 1 (51%); 59, grade 2 (42%); and 9, grade 3 (7%). Of these, 34 tumors (25%) were completely excised, and 104 (75%) were marginally excised. None of 30 completely excised tumors with follow-up information recurred. Three of 41 grade 1 tumors (7%), 14 of 41 grade 2 tumors (34%), and 3 out of 4 grade 3 tumors recurred after marginal excision. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were generated to evaluate survival and the tumor-free interval. The log-rank test and log-rank test for trend were used for comparisons. Tumor recurrence-free intervals for dogs with grade 1 and 2 tumors and for those with grade 1 and 3 tumors differed significantly (P = .0027 and .0001, respectively) and overall were inversely related to tumor grade (P = .0007). Kaplan-Meier survival curves, regardless of recurrence, for patients with grade 1, 2, or 3 tumors treated by marginal excision did not differ significantly, and none differed from the survival curves of patients treated by complete excision. In conclusion, histologic grade is a strong predictor for recurrence of marginally excised subcutaneous soft tissue sarcomas. Clean margins predict nonrecurrence. Tumor recurrence did not significantly reduce survival time.