A Successful Chemoembolization of a Retroperitoneal Soft Tissue Sarcoma: A Case Report

Retroperitoneal sarcomas are rare entities. They have a tendency of growing slowly, rendering the patient apparently healthy for long periods of time, before diagnosis. Besides, they have a worse prognosis than sarcomas arising in extremities, with a higher local recurrence rate and lower 5-year survival rate. We describe a case of a 71-year-old male patient, who had a very well succeeded treatment of a large retroperitoneal sarcoma with the combination of chemoembolization, systemic chemotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. Initially, it was noticed in an incidental way he had a large retroperitoneal mass (15 cm × 10 cm × 9.2 cm) through magnetic resonance, when he was 63. The case was considered inoperable by the treating physicians. After neoadjuvant therapy, the residual tumor could be completely excised by the responsible surgeon. With a follow-up of >5 years, since the end of treatment, the patient remains in complete remission and, probably, cured from his illness. Large retroperitoneal sarcomas are still a great challenge for oncologists. According to the medical literature, chemoembolization can benefit some patients, but most of them in a palliative setting. In our report, we believe its contribution was critical for a great outcome. In selected cases, it is possible this procedure may be an additional therapeutic modality, as part of a multidisciplinary approach.