[Curative limb saving operation (curative wide resection)]

The recent results of surgical treatment of soft tissue sarcomas have dramatically improved. The result of the group study of soft tissue sarcomas, which was supported by the Ministry of Health and Welfare (1962-1976) showed that the local recurrence rate was 50%, and the metastatic rate was 60%. In contrast with this result, the recent results of our curative wide resection showed the local recurrence rate of 10%, and the metastatic rate of 30%. These procedures are based on the clinico-pathological findings which we studied. Curative wide resection is a method of radical wide resection, similar to radical local resection (reported by Enneking) and radical local excision (reported by Stenar). Our procedures are the least aggressive of the three radical wide resections, but our results are the same as the other wide resection methods. To obtain good results with these procedures, accurate preoperative diagnosis and skillful surgery are necessary.