Clinical Features of Surgical Resection for Liver Metastasis from Extremity Soft Tissue Sarcoma

The aim of the present study was to define the prognostic factors for survival after hepatic metastasectomy from extremity soft tissue sarcoma.

Between January 2000 and January 2009, 27 patients with hepatic metastases from extremity soft tissue sarcomas underwent liver resection with radical intent. Various clinicopathologic variables were investigated retrospectively to identify possible prognostic factors for survival after hepatic metastasectomy.

Overall survival was 46% and 24% at 5 and 10 years after liver resection, respectively. Disease-free survival was 13% at 1 year after hepatic metastasectomy. On multivariate analysis, disease-free interval longer than 24 months (P = 0.010), no tumor recurrence before hepatic metastasectomy (P = 0.040) and negative margin resection (P = 0.002) provided a significantly favorable overall survival. Repeated hepatic metastasectomy for recurrent hepatic metastases (P = 0.007) also provided a favorable overall survival.

Hepatic metastasectomy for extremity soft tissue sarcoma can be associated with prolonged survival. Complete resection, longer disease-free interval, no tumor recurrence before liver resection and repeated resection for recurrent liver metastases are the most predictive factors for prolonged survival.