Clear cell sarcoma : a retrospective review from a tertiary orthopaedic sarcoma unit

Area of Science:

• Oncology
• Orthopedic Surgery
• Soft Tissue Tumors

Background:

• Clear cell sarcoma is an aggressive soft tissue malignancy.
• Optimal management strategies require further investigation.
• Understanding prognostic factors is crucial for patient outcomes.

Purpose of the Study:

• To evaluate the presentation, investigation, and management of clear cell sarcoma.
• To report survival rates, local recurrence, and metastasis development.
• To identify factors influencing patient outcomes.

Main Methods:

• Retrospective review of a prospectively maintained oncology database.
• Inclusion of 47 patients treated between January 1996 and January 2024.
• Median follow-up of 28 months, assessing survival, local recurrence, and metastases.

Main Results:

• Overall survival was 37.4% at ten years; median survival was 40 months.
• Metastases were present at diagnosis in 28% of patients, identified effectively with PET CT.
• Local recurrence occurred in 19%, and metastases in 43%; complete excision with disease-free margins improved cure rates.

Conclusions:

• Clear cell sarcoma exhibits aggressive behavior with modest survival rates.
• Early metastasis detection via PET CT enhances treatment focus.
• Future research should explore targeted immunotherapies to improve outcomes.