The influence of anatomic location on outcome in patients with soft tissue sarcoma of the extremity

BACKGROUND: The anatomic location of an extremity soft tissue sarcoma may influence the patient's presentation, management, and local and systemic recurrence rates. The objective of this study was to compare the presentation, management, and outcome of patients with soft tissue sarcomas of the upper extremity and the lower extremity. METHODS: Prospectively collected data from patients who underwent limb-sparing surgery for extremity soft tissue sarcoma between January, 1986 and April, 1997 were analyzed. Local recurrence free rates and metastasis free rates were calculated using the method of Kaplan and Meier. Univariate and multivariate analyses of potential predictive factors were evaluated with the log-rank test and the Cox proportional hazards model. RESULTS: Of 480 eligible patients, 48 patients (10.0%) had a local recurrence, and 131 patients (27.3%) developed distant metastasis. The median follow-up of survivors was 4.8 years (range, 0.1-12.9 years). Patients with upper extremity tumors had smaller lesions (6.0 cm vs. 9.3 cm; P < 0.001), more often underwent unplanned excision before referral (89 patients [64.0%] vs. 160 patients [46.9%]; P < 0.001), and less often received radiotherapy (98 patients [70.5%] vs. 289 patients [84.8%]; P < 0.001). The 5-year local recurrence free rate was 82% for patients with sarcomas of the upper extremity and 93% for patients with sarcomas of the lower extremity (P = 0.002). The 5-year metastasis free rate was 82% for patients with sarcomas of the upper extremity and 69% for patients with sarcomas of the lower extremity (P = 0.013). CONCLUSIONS: Local recurrence was more frequent in patients who had sarcomas of the upper extremity compared with patients who had sarcomas of the lower extremity. Factors that contributed to this difference included histologic type, the use of radiotherapy, and local anatomy. Metastasis was more frequent among patients with sarcomas of the lower extremity, because those tumors tended to be large and deeper compared with upper extremity tumors.     

Impact of neoadjuvant chemotherapy on postoperative morbidity in soft tissue sarcomas.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to test the hypothesis that neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NeoCT) does not increase morbidity in patients undergoing radical surgery for soft tissue sarcomas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: The records of 309 patients who presented to The University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center for definitive surgical management of primary soft tissue sarcomas were retrospectively reviewed. One hundred five patients who received NeoCT were compared with 204 patients who had surgery first (Surg). Patients had extremity sarcomas (71 NeoCT patients and 130 Surg patients) or retroperitoneal/visceral sarcomas (34 NeoCT and 74 Surg). RESULTS: NeoCT patients had larger tumors (median, 12 v 8 cm), more frequently had high-grade tumors (90% v 64%), and were younger (median age 47 v 55 years). The incidence of surgical complications was not different for NeoCT patients than for Surg patients, both in those with extremity sarcomas (34% v 41%) and in those with retroperitoneal/visceral sarcomas (29% v 34%). The most common complications were wound infections and other wound complications. Preoperative radiation therapy, autologous flap coverage, and extremity tumors were associated with increased wound complications. No significant differences in length of hospital stay, rate of readmission, or rate of reoperation for complications were found between the NeoCT and Surg groups. One of the three postoperative deaths in our series occurred in the NeoCT group. CONCLUSION: In this retrospective review, there was no evidence that NeoCT increased postoperative morbidity in patients with soft tissue sarcomas. Prospective, randomized studies are needed to confirm these results.     

Flap reconstruction does not increase complication rates following surgical resection of extremity soft tissue sarcoma

Background

Flap reconstruction plays an essential role in the surgical management of extremity soft tissue sarcoma (ESTS) for many patients. But flaps increase the duration and complexity of the surgery and their contribution to overall morbidity is unclear. This study directly compares the complication rates in patients with ESTS undergoing either flap reconstruction or primary wound closure and explores contributing factors.

臀部恶性和侵袭性软组织肿瘤的外科治疗

目的探讨臀部软组织肉瘤屏障切除和臀部肿瘤分区修复的可能性和效果。方法1992年7月至2004年1月收治臀部肿瘤中资料完整15例，男6例，女9例。年龄16～71岁，平均44．3岁。软组织肉瘤12例中，11例采用屏障切除方法切除肿瘤，另4例行边缘切除或经瘤切除。9例作了11块肌皮瓣覆盖缺损。2／15例重建了动力功能。结果软组织肉瘤屏障切除随访时间6—96个月，平均34．5个月。其中2例复发，复发率18．1％，平均复发时间33个月。4例平均术后13个月死亡，屏障切除占2例。11块肌皮瓣中1例坏死20％，余全部成活。结论屏障切除术是软组织肉瘤切除的理想术式，适应证比根治性切除术更广，复发率低于广泛切除术，而可操作性优于广泛切除术。臀部缺损的划区肌皮瓣修复方法简单，成功率高。     

Large, deep high-grade extremity sarcomas: when is a myocutaneous flap reconstruction necessary?

The surgical treatment of large, deep high-grade extremity soft tissue sarcomas frequently produces a significant tissue defect. In addition, the management of the surgical wound is often further complicated by preoperative radiation or adjuvant therapies. The use of either pedicled or free myocutaneous flaps allows for more rapid and predictable wound healing in this situation. Myocutaneous flaps provide well-vascularized coverage of lost tissue volume, exposed vital structures, and prosthetic reconstruction materials. When harvested from unirradiated sites, flap coverage can overcome the detrimental effects of radiation therapy and chemotherapy on postoperative wound healing. Reconstruction of the soft tissue defect may also improve patient satisfaction with aesthetic issues. The use of innervated myocutaneous flaps can even address the functionality of the extremity following resection of major muscle groups. Myocutaneous flaps are an extremely versatile option for reconstruction in the treatment of large, deep high-grade extremity soft tissue sarcomas.     

筋膜皮瓣修复四肢关节周围肿瘤术后巨大创面的应用研究

目的分析筋膜皮瓣在四肢关节周围软组织肿瘤切除术后巨大皮肤缺损重建术中的可行性及相关并发症。方法2007年1月至2012年1月,共39例因腕、肘、髋、膝及踝等关节周围软组织恶性肿瘤在我院行病灶广泛切除及邻近部位的筋膜皮瓣转移覆盖创面术。其中男21例,女18例。患者平均年龄45．72（14～731岁。初诊10例,术后6个月内原发灶再次行扩大切除14例,术后复发15例。研究内容包括：肿瘤切除后皮肤缺损大小、筋膜皮瓣种类、术后伤口及皮瓣愈合情况、患肢外观及功能、肿瘤复发率等。结果切除肿瘤部位包括腕关节5例,肘关节3例,髋关节8例,膝关节6例,踝关节17例。采用的皮瓣包括桡动脉腕上支筋膜皮瓣5例、上臂外侧筋膜皮瓣3例、腹股沟筋膜皮瓣3例、阔筋膜张肌筋膜皮瓣3例、大腿后侧筋膜皮瓣2例、小腿后侧筋膜皮瓣6例及腓肠神经逆行筋膜皮瓣17例。所有筋膜皮瓣均可完整覆盖创面,而且血运良好。除2例发生皮缘少许坏死及1例浅表感染外,其余皮瓣均正常存活。皮瓣外观均可被患者接受,术后患肢关节活动度正常,MSTS及TESS功能评分优良。本组病例未发生大面积的皮瓣坏死及术后皮瓣严重挛缩等并发症。初诊与扩大切除及复发病例在复发率上存在显著性差异。结论筋膜皮瓣具有血供丰富、切取范围大、皮瓣弹性好及厚度适中等优点,术后皮瓣坏死及感染率低,是一类适合在关节周围软组织肿瘤切除后巨大缺损创面应用的临近皮瓣。     

Surgical considerations for management of distal extremity soft tissue sarcomas

PURPOSE OF REVIEW: This review focuses on the surgical management of soft tissue sarcomas of the hands and the feet. With recent advances in limb salvage surgery and radiotherapy delivery, local control of soft tissue sarcoma in the extremity has become optimized, and the associated functional results of this treatment have taken on extreme importance. Techniques to limit the amount of normal tissue resected and to reconstruct the resulting defects are critical to the final functional result. RECENT FINDINGS: Several features of soft tissue sarcoma unique to the hand and foot have been reported. Certain histologic subtypes of soft tissue sarcoma have been noted to arise preferentially in the hand and the foot, such as epithelioid sarcoma, clear cell sarcoma, and synovial sarcoma. Patients with hand and foot sarcomas have been described as having improved overall survival, but this is likely a result of the smaller size of tumors arising in these locations. Reconstruction of bone defects using various techniques, vascular reconstruction, tendon transfers, and soft tissue reconstruction using regional flaps in the hand and free flaps in the foot have resulted in good functional outcomes. Amputation and early prosthetic fitting still have a role in management of some soft tissue sarcomas, most frequently in the foot. SUMMARY: Limb salvage remains the standard of care for extremity soft tissue sarcomas. Given the fact that patients have good oncologic and functional outcomes with limb salvage in tumors in the hand and foot, surgical oncologists should have this goal for each patient.     

Limb preservation and tumor control in the treatment of popliteal and antecubital soft tissue sarcomas

Soft tissue sarcomas of the antecubital and popliteal space often involve the neurovascular bundle and are prone to recurrence after surgical resection. Amputation has frequently been performed for control of these tumors. A multimodality treatment program consisting of limb-sparing resection, tumor-bed radiation using temporary iridium 192 implants, and adjuvant chemotherapy for high-grade lesions, has yielded satisfactory preservation of limb function and no local tumor recurrence in ten patients after a median follow-up time of 5 years. Eight of the ten patients are still alive, five of whom beyond 5 years; six of the eight survivors had high-grade tumors. These results are superior to those of 14 patients with similar tumors treated earlier by surgery alone: seven by amputation and seven by soft part resection; four of the latter resulted in local recurrence and all of the seven who had high-grade sarcoma died of disease. Multimodality treatment including limb-sparing resection merits consideration in the management of antecubital and popliteal soft tissue sarcomas.     

Results of limb-salvage surgery with vascular reconstruction for soft tissue sarcoma in the lower extremity: comparison between only arterial and arterovenous reconstruction

BACKGROUND: Reports on vascular reconstruction in conjunction with limb salvage techniques for soft tissue sarcomas in the lower extremity have been published. The aim of this study was to investigate the necessity for venous reconstruction by comparing the results of arterial reconstruction alone and those of arteriovenous reconstruction. METHODS: Twenty-five (6.7%) of 373 patients underwent vascular resections for lower limb soft tissue sarcomas. Only arterial reconstruction was performed for 12 patients. Arteriovenous reconstruction was performed for 13 patients. The clinical results, complications, and postoperative function were compared between only arterial reconstruction group and arteriovenous reconstruction group. RESULTS: Limb salvage was achieved in 92% of all cases. No local recurrence has been observed. Nineteen patients (76%) are continuously free of disease. Histopathologic examination of the specimens showed that blood vessels had been infiltrated in 24%. The mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score was 70%. There were no significant differences in complication rate and postoperative function between two groups. CONCLUSIONS: Wide resection with vascular reconstruction for patients of soft tissue sarcomas involving major vessels in the lower limb provide long term local control and limb salvage. This study could not indicate the usefulness of additional venous reconstruction after vascular resection in the lower extremity.     

Selective combination of modalities in soft tissue sarcomas: limb salvage and survival

One hundred fifty-two consecutive patients with soft tissue sarcomas were operated in the period 1977 through 1985. Eighty-seven patients with minimum resection margin of 2 cm or greater had no further local therapy, whereas 65 patients with minimum margin less than 2 cm had adjuvant postoperative radiation. Of 121 patients with extremity sarcomas, only 5 (4%) were managed with amputation. The overall 5-year survival rate is 58%, and for patients with extremity tumors, 67%. The 5-year local recurrence rate in extremity sarcomas was 10% for patients with minimum surgical margins 2 cm or greater and no further local therapy, and 6% for those with lesser surgical margins and adjuvant postoperative radiation. With selective combination of modalities limb salvage can now be practiced in 96% of the patients with acceptable local control and survival rates.     

四肢低度恶性软组织肿瘤的外科治疗

目的：总结四肢软组织低度恶性肿瘤的治疗经验及教训,以减少复发、提高生存质量。方法：本组共29（男11,女18）例,均为四肢低度恶性肿瘤：纤维肉瘤12例,腱鞘巨细胞瘤8例,高分化脂肪肉瘤6例,高分化平滑肌肉瘤3例。其中16例原发且与皮肤粘连紧密,13例外院或本院术后复发。肿瘤最大12cm×8cm×5cm,最小6cm×4cm×3cm。对其中13例复发及16例与皮肤粘连紧密者,行包括皮肤在内的肿瘤扩大切除、局部皮瓣或游离皮瓣修复,对位于腹股沟区或胭窝区与股、胭大血管及神经紧密粘连者,先从肿瘤远近端3—5cm以上血管、神经正常部分切除,再向病变区解剖、切除肿瘤,血管缺损行血管移植、神经缺损造成的功能障碍一期重建并早期行功能锻炼。结果：29例均获得随访,最长10年,最短6个月,目前全部患者均健在且无复发。行皮瓣修复者均成功,且皮瓣外观良好、厚薄适中,血管移植者,寒冷季节无肢端苍白及怕冷,行肌腱转移一期重建者功能恢复满意。结论：对四肢软组织低度恶性肿瘤,行扩大切除、皮瓣修复及一期重建是减少局部复发、提高生存质量的较好方法。     

Feasibility of limb salvage and survival in soft tissue sarcomas

One hundred nine consecutive patients with soft tissue sarcomas were treated in the period 1977 through 1983. Of 85 patients with extremity sarcomas, only 3 patients (4%) were managed with amputation, whereas in the previous decade, 40% of such patients were treated with amputation in our institute. The current 5-year survival rate is 63%; in the previous decade it was 45%. In the current series, for extremity locations, patients with minimum surgical margins of 2 cm or greater and no further local therapy had a 5-year local recurrence rate of 17%, whereas those with minimum surgical margins of less than 2 cm and who were treated with adjuvant postoperative radiation had a local recurrence rate of 7%. In the previous period, the local recurrence rate was 30% after wide resection and 66.6% after local excision. With a combination of modalities, limb salvage can be practiced currently in the majority of patients with extremity soft tissue sarcomas without any adverse effect on recurrence rates and survival.     

Tolerance of tissue transfers to adjuvant radiation therapy in primary soft tissue sarcoma of the extremity

PURPOSE: Treatment of extremity sarcomas occasionally requires tissue transfer in the form of pedicle flaps, free flaps, or skin grafts to repair surgical defects. These tissues are often subject to radiation (RT) and are therefore at risk for wound breakdown requiring reoperation. This study reviews a single center's experience with tissue transfer and postoperative RT. METODS AND MATERIALS: Between 1983 and 2000, 43 adult patients (>16 years old) with primary high-grade soft tissue extremity sarcomas underwent limb-sparing surgery and reconstruction of their surgical defects, followed by adjuvant RT. The reconstructions were as follows: pedicle flaps (n = 14), free flaps (n = 10), skin grafts (n = 4), or a combination (n = 15). Postoperative external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) (median dose: 63 Gy) alone was given to 27 patients (63%). Adjuvant brachytherapy (BRT) was given to 16 patients (37%); BRT alone (median dose: 45 Gy) was given to 12 patients and combined with EBRT for 4 patients (EBRT: 45 Gy; BRT: 20 Gy). Comorbid conditions such as diabetes, hypertension, tobacco use, and obesity (calculated using body mass index >or=30) were present in 30 patients (70%). Tumor characteristics were as follows: 26 were >5 cm in size, 37 were deep, and 30 were in the lower extremity. The median follow-up time, calculated from the date of operation, was 32 months.Five of 43 patients suffered wound complications necessitating reoperation; however, 3 patients developed complications before initiation of RT and were therefore excluded from the analysis. Two of 43 patients (5%) required reoperation for wound complications after RT; 1 of these patients ultimately required amputation for necrosis. The 5-year overall wound reoperation rate was 6% (95% confidence interval: 0-14%). The influence of patient and tumor characteristics, as well as the type of RT, on the wound reoperation rates is as follows: BRT vs. EBRT (17% vs. 0%, p = 0.06); upper vs. lower extremity (0% vs. 8%, p = 0.41); 5 cm (8% vs. 4%, p = 0.9); comorbidity vs. no comorbidity (3% vs. 13%, p = 0.8); age 50 (8% vs. 4%, p = 0.8). CONCLUSION: Based on this review, most tissue transfers (95%) tolerated subsequent adjuvant radiation therapy well. Although more wound complications necessitating reoperation were seen in patients who received BRT, whether this is because of the inherent susceptibility of flaps and skin grafts to breakdown in the immediate postoperative period vs. the direct result of BRT needs further investigation.     

Amputation for extremity soft tissue sarcoma does not increase overall survival: A retrospective cohort study

To determine if amputation increases survival when compared to limb salvage surgery in patients with a soft tissue sarcoma (STS) of the extremity when there is often a misconception among physicians and patients that ablative surgery eliminates local recurrence and increases overall survival. This retrospective cohort study assessed 278 patients with STS and compared 18 patients who had undergone amputations for soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities to a comparative cohort of 260 patients who underwent limb salvage surgery during the same time period. Our limb salvage surgery (LSS) rate was 94% overall for soft tissue sarcomas with a median follow-up of 3.1 years. Patients undergoing amputations either had tumors that involved a critical neurovascular bundle (in particular nerve rather than vessel resection was more responsible for a decision toward ablation), or underlying bone or had neoplasms whose large size would require such an enormous resection that a functional limb would not remain. In comparing prognostic effects, mainly death due to sarcoma, distant metastasis and local recurrence, it was found that there was no statistically significant difference between patients undergoing amputation to those undergoing limb salvage surgery (p > 0.05). While amputations do not increase overall survival in soft tissue sarcomas of the extremity as compared to LSS, they are still a valuable option in a surgeon's arsenal. In particular, amputations can provide improved local control and symptomatic treatment in patients who might not be candidates for limb salvage surgery.     

Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy for primary high-grade extremity soft tissue sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: The purpose of this study was to retrospectively analyze the relationship between neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and outcome in patients with high-grade extremity sarcomas. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Inclusion criteria were high-grade, deep, >5 cm extremity soft tissue sarcomas. Patients diagnosed between 1990 and 2001 were treated with surgery only (n=282) or NAC containing doxorubicin/ifosfamide/mesna (AIM) (n=74). The stratified Cox proportional hazards model was used to test the effect of NAC on disease-specific survival and recurrence while adjusting for known prognostic factors. RESULTS: NAC was associated with improved disease-specific survival for this cohort of patients (P=0.02). This overall improvement appears to be driven by the benefit of NAC on disease-specific survival for patient with tumors >10 cm. The 3-year disease-specific survival for tumors >10 cm was 0.62 (95% CI: 0.53-0.71) for patients not receiving NAC and 0.83 (95% CI: 0.72-0.95) for patients receiving NAC. CONCLUSION: NAC with AIM was associated with a significant improvement in disease-specific survival in patients with high-grade extremity soft tissue sarcomas >10 cm. These data emphasize the need for further prospective clinical studies of neo-adjuvant or adjuvant chemotherapy for patients with large high-grade extremity sarcomas.     

Outcomes after flap reconstruction for extremity soft tissue sarcoma: A case–control study using propensity score analysis

Background

Because of the complexity of flap reconstruction and the magnitude of soft tissue defects, patients undergoing flap reconstruction for extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS) may have increased morbidity and poor outcome compared with those undergoing primary closure. However, to examine the accurate impact of flap reconstruction on extremity STS patients, the potential bias by confounding factors should be minimized.

Methods

We used propensity score analysis to match 37 patients who underwent flap reconstruction to 111 patients who underwent primary closure (1–3 ratio) based on patient and tumor characteristics at presentation. Treatment, functional, and oncologic outcomes were compared between the two groups.

Results

Flap reconstruction group showed a lower Musculoskeletal Tumor Society functional score (P < 0.001), higher wound complication rate (P < 0.001), and longer hospital stay (P < 0.001); but had better local control (P = 0.015) than the primary closure group. Although failing to reach the statistical significance, the flap group tended to secure a wider surgical margin than the primary closure group (P = 0.051).

Conclusions

Patients who underwent flap reconstruction had increased morbidity associated with flap reconstruction, but better local control. These findings may have implications for treating extremity STS patients.     

Wound complications following pre-operative radiotherapy for soft tissue sarcoma.

AIMS: We analysed wound complications in 43 patients with soft tissue sarcoma who were treated with combined pre-operative radiotherapy and surgery. METHODS: All patients received the same protocol of pre-operative radiotherapy at our institution. RESULTS: Thirty-six (84%) patients developed acute skin toxicity following radiotherapy. After wide local excision, 15 patients required primary soft tissue reconstruction with vascularized muscle transfer and four patients underwent free skin flap to enable wound closure as part of their primary surgery. Nineteen patients (44%) developed post-operative wound complications including 10 (23%) patients who required an additional surgical procedure. Four (27%) patients developed flap necrosis in a group of 15 who underwent primary vascularized soft tissue transfer. All required a second vascularized muscular flap. One elderly patient, who had grade 3 acute radiation skin toxicity, had an arterial graft and total hip arthroplasty for a femoral artery aneurysm and an avascular necrosis of the hip, respectively. In our series, age (> or = 40 years) was the only impact factor influencing wound complication after surgery following radiotherapy (P=0.06). CONCLUSIONS: Site of tumour, radiation field size, surgical resection volume, grade of acute radiation toxicity, co-morbidity, and smoking were not demonstrated to have predictive value in wound complication following pre-operative radiotherapy. Although previous papers suggested that vascularized soft tissue transfer could be useful reducing wound morbidity, our results could not confirm this.     

间室切除在四肢软组织肿瘤治疗中的应用

目的：探讨间室切除术在四肢软组织肿瘤治疗中方法及临床价值。方法：12例四肢软组织肿瘤，上肢2例，下肢lO例，首次治疗者8例，复发者4例。行股前间室切除术3例，股后间室切除术7例，前臂外侧间室切除l例，三角肌全切除l例。伴神经部分切除术2例。功能重建包括肌腱替代和皮瓣转位等。结果：本组均保留患肢，随访10～60个月，无瘤生存10例，复发和死亡各1例。结论：对于四肢软组织肿瘤，以控制肿瘤和保存肢体为治疗核心，间室切除术系目前较理想的方法。     

Microvascular reconstructions after extensive soft tissue sarcoma resections in the upper limb

Aims

Limb-sparing surgery combined with radiotherapy (RT) is the basis of extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS) treatment. The aim of this study was to evaluate the results of microvascular reconstruction after extensive tumour resections in the upper extremity.

Methods

Twenty patients with STS of the upper extremity were treated with excision and microvascular reconstruction. RT was administered if surgical margins were less than 25 mm. Results were evaluated retrospectively.

Results

Twenty free flaps were performed and no flaps were lost. There was no operative mortality, and wound complication rate was 15%. Median follow-up length was 74 months. Five-year local recurrence-free survival was 57%, metastasis-free survival 67%, disease-free survival 45% and disease-specific overall survival 80%. Ten patients had no or only mild impairment of upper extremity function, seven had impaired function affecting daily life, and three patients underwent amputation. For patients treated with curative intent, limb salvage rate was 94%.

Conclusions

Free flaps are useful and reliable in the treatment of patients with STS of the upper extremity. Without microvascular reconstruction limb salvage would have been impossible in these patients. Oncological outcome is comparable to other extremity STS patients and upper extremity function is acceptable.     

Treatment and local control of primary extremity soft tissue sarcomas.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: Modern series of adult extremity soft tissue sarcomas utilize combinations of modalities in all patients. Remaining questions: 1) is it necessary to strive for wide margins in the multimodality era; 2) to use adjuvant therapy in every high-grade sarcoma? 3) Does previous partial or marginal resection seriously interfere with the definitive resection? METHODS: In a retrospective review of 194 extremity soft tissue sarcomas (1977-1994), limb preservation was possible in 181/194 (93%) of cases. Patients with narrow margins received adjuvant radiation. Some patients were referred after partial (n = 39) or "complete" (n = 63) excision. RESULTS: Local recurrence was observed in 181/141 (13%) of patients treated with wide or compartmental resection, and in 10 of 42 (24%) of those treated with conservative resection plus radiation (P = 0.14). The 5-year survival rate for grade III, >/=5-cm sarcomas was not significantly different (P = 0.82) with adjuvant (46%) or without (48%) adjuvant systemic chemotherapy. Five-year survival varied (P = 0.0001) according to grade. Patients referred with partial, or "complete" (63%, 38/63, had residual tumor at reoperation) excision had a local recurrence rate of 8% and 6%, and 5-year survival rates of 75% and 84%, respectively. CONCLUSIONS: 1) It is important to strive for wide margins even when adjuvant radiation is intended. 2) When a wide margin is possible, adjuvant radiation may not be necessary. 3) Adjuvant systemic chemotherapy may be considered for high-grade tumors, preferably within a prospective protocol. 4) A partial or "complete" excision of the tumor before referral to a tertiary center does not appear to compromise the limb preservation, local control, or survival rates of these patients.