[Malignant soft tissue tumors - problems of combined therapy. Surgery and after care]

Based on our own experience of 158 soft tissue sarcomas and an inquiry at 10 German clinics, the problems of these malignancies are discussed. Each soft tissue tumor must be totally excised for histological examination. It has to be considered a malignancy until the opposite has been proved. Uninterrupted postoperative control is of paramount importance. Extended radical surgery is controversial; today plastic and reconstructive operations are preferred. In inoperable neoplasms surgical reduction of the tumor mass is recommended. The combination of surgical, radiological and chemotherapeutic treatment is superior to surgery alone.