Adult Soft-Tissue Sarcomas of the Extremities

Soft-tissue sarcomas (STS) in adults comprise a heterogeneous group of tumors of mesenchymal origin that share similar biological patterns of local tumor growth and metastatic dissemination.

The judicious use of imaging studies, biopsy techniques, and pathological evaluations is essential for accurate diagnosis and for planning treatment strategy.

Wide local resection and radiation therapy form the cornerstone of management of high-grade STS. The role of adjuvant radiation therapy is questionable in the management of small (≤5 cm) superficial lesions that can be resected with negative margins. Chemotherapy given to patients who have nonmetastatic, high-grade STS results in varying benefit in terms of local tumor control and overall survival.

Coordinated care by a multidisciplinary team of trained surgeons, medical oncologists, radiologists, radiation oncologists, and pathologists has been documented to improve local tumor control and the overall survival of patients with STS.

Although considerable progress in tumor diagnostics and targeted therapies has been made over the past 2 decades, recommendations and controversies relating to tumor imaging and margins of resection have not changed.