[Primary retroperitoneal tumors. Our experience]

Primary retroperitoneal tumors are rare (0.05-0.2% of all tumors), often malignant and characterized by a poor and non-specific symptomatology and by a late diagnosis. Complete resection is possible in only a few patients, while recurrence is very common. The records of 29 adult patients who underwent operative treatment at Surgical Oncology Institute-University of Cagliari between November 1973 and June 1992 were reviewed; 9 were males, 20 females, median age 46.4 years (range 12-82). There were 4 benign tumors (13.8%) and 25 malignant (86.2%). Fibrosarcoma (9 cases, 31%) and liposarcoma (3 cases, 10.3%) were the most frequent histologic types. There were also two fibroleiomyomas, leiomyosarcomas, malignant fibrous histiocytomas and neuroblastomas, one case of fibroma, neurofibroma, rhabdomyosarcoma and schwannoma. Five sarcoma were not otherwise specified. Abdominal mass (25 cases, 86.2%), flank or abdominal pain (15 cases, 51.7%) and weight loss (8 cases, 27.6%) were most common symptoms; change in bowel habit and constipation (6 cases, 20.7%), fever (5 cases, 17.2%), urinary disorders (4 cases, 13.8%) nausea and vomiting (2 cases, 6.7%) were less common. Diagnosis was made by ultrasonography, computed tomography and traditional radiographic studies. median interval between first symptoms and diagnosis was 11 months. Complete surgical resection was possible in only 13 cases (46.4%): 10 of the 25 malignant tumors (40%) and 3 of the 4 benign tumors (75%).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)