[Pattern of lymphogenic metastasizing of soft tissue malignant tumors]

The examination performed indicated metastases in regional lymph nodes in 34 (7.5%) of 453 patients with soft tissue malignancies. The presence of metastases aggravates considerably the prognosis: a 5-year survival was 6.6%. Great risk of metastatic proliferation is especially characteristic of rhabdomyosarcoma, non-classifiable blastoma and synovial sarcoma. Primary tumors develop metastases more frequently than recurrent ones. The probability of lymphogenic spread of metastases is the higher the larger the tumor size in young individuals, and also with skin involvement. Tumor infiltration of bones does not result in an increased percentage of lymphogenic metastasization. The proximity of a tumor to regional lymph nodes is not inherent in a higher risk of their metastatic involvement.