Management of extremity soft tissue sarcomas

Abstract

Limb sparing surgery and adjuvant radiation therapy is the treatment of choice in patients with soft tissue sarcomas of extremities, stages I-III. The results obtained by preoperative or intraoperative irradiation are judged to be similar, as compared to postoperative radiotherapy. The role of chemotherapy in this group of patients remains controversial, analysis in the literature demonstrates that its use as an adjunct to local therapies may prolong a time to relapse but does not give a benefit in overall survival. In stage IV patients, chemotherapy plays a palliative role only.