Primary retroperitoneal soft-tissue sarcomas

Of the 98 soft-tissue sarcomas treated between 1973-1978, 12 were retroperitoneal in origin. Fifty percent underwent one to three previous surgical procedures. All patients were operated on. In 75% (nine out of 12), the tumor was completely resected. The operative mortality for total tumor excision was 11%. There were five liposarcomas, three leiomyosarcomas, two neurofibrosarcomas, and one synovial sarcoma and one unclassified sarcoma. Six of the 12 patients survived five years and three (25%) were alive without evidence of disease at 5 years. Three of the completely resected group received no further treatment; 2/3 survived 5 years; three had postoperative chemotherapy; 3/3 survived; and three others had radiation and chemotherapy subsequent to surgery; all three have died. The two most important prognostic factors were tumor grade and surgical excision. Only one patient with high grade tumor survived. Total surgical excision of the tumor offers the only hope for cure. Aggressive surgery in treating retroperitoneal soft part sarcomas is strongly recommended.