Multidisciplinary Approach to Treatment of Soft Tissue Sarcomas Requiring Complex Oncologic Resections

To review the experience and outcome of utilizing a multidisciplinary team, including vascular surgery and orthopedic surgery, in the operative treatment of soft tissue sarcomas (STSs) at an academic, tertiary care hospital.

A retrospective review was performed of all patients who underwent elective STS resection between July 1, 2012 and January 31, 2015, since the addition of a specialized cancer treatment center and a dedicated oncologic division of orthopedic surgery. Surgical cases performed in conjunction with both orthopedic and vascular surgery were reviewed.

Sixty-three patients underwent 66 surgical resections for STS during the study period. There were no perioperative deaths. Fifty-two lower-extremity resections (78.8%), 6 upper-extremity resections (9.1%), and 8 pelvic resections (12.1%) were performed. Sixteen cases required a vascular intervention (24.2%). These interventions included bypass in 2 patients (12.5%), primary repair of a named vessel in 4 patients (25%), and ligation of a named vessel in 10 patients (62.5%). Three patients had local recurrence of their tumor (4.5%), requiring further resection during the follow-up period. Seven patients required a primary amputation (10.6%). The average size of the tumor removed was 1,776 mL, ranging from 5 mL to 36,300 mL.

The quality of surgical resection is paramount in optimal treatment of STS; however, wide resection of STS can result in prolonged operative times, significant blood loss, vascular complications, and functional deficits. A multidisciplinary surgical team including orthopedic and vascular teams may improve the treatment by optimizing complex resections that may require involved vascular control or reconstruction.