Limb-sparing therapy of extremity soft tissue sarcomas: treatment outcome and long-term functional results

The purpose of this study is to assess the long-term success rate and functional results of limb-sparing therapy in a group of 156 patients with soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities in the Netherlands Cancer Institute, treated according to a standard protocol of surgery and radiotherapy, if indicated. The patients (79 females and 77 males) were treated between 1977 and 1983 by an intended wide local excision with a margin of at least 2 cm. Postoperative radiotherapy was applied in 117 patients; 26 patients had surgery only, including 13 patients who had to be treated by amputation. The total dose was 60 Gy, with 40 Gy to a large volume and a boost of 20 Gy to the tumour bed at 2 Gy per fraction, five fractions per week. Most sarcomas were located in the proximal part of the lower extremity (51%). The group comprised 50 liposarcomas, 47 malignant fibrous hystiocystoma (MFH) and 59 other histologies; 69 (44%) had high-grade tumours. Three treatment groups with limb-sparing treatment were defined: group I (n = 26) patients who had a complete excision receiving no further treatment, group II (n = 64) with narrow surgical margins and radiotherapy and group III (n = 53) with incomplete resection and radiotherapy. The 10-year actuarial overall survival and local control rate for all patients was 63 and 81%, respectively. Multivariate analysis showed that histological grade (P < 0.0001), age (P = 0.0005) and location deep to the fascia (P = 0.0008) were independent prognostic factors for survival, while local control was predicted by grade (P = 0.0014) and treatment group (p = 0.028). Patients with surgery only (group I) had 81% 5-year local control as compared to 92% with radiotherapy after narrow surgery (group II) and 74% with incomplete surgery and radiotherapy (group III). Limb preservation when attempted was achieved in 90% of the patients. After limb-sparing treatment, 7% had severe impairment of mobility, 3% had lymph oedema and 16% marked fibrosis. Fractures in the irradiated bone occurred in 6% of the patients. The combination of limited surgery followed by radiotherapy resulted in a high local control rate with good functional results. Ultimately limb sparing treatment was successful in 83% of all patients with extremity sarcomas.