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.     

Tumour volume changes following pre-operative radiotherapy in borderline resectable limb and trunk soft tissue sarcoma

Aims

To evaluate tumour volume changes after preoperative radiotherapy (PRT) for borderline operable soft tissue sarcomas (STS).

Materials and methods

A retrospective review was performed of 68 patients who received PRT between December 2004 and July 2011. Endpoints were radiological response, surgical margins, local control and survival.

Results

Median tumour size was 12.5 cm. Tumour location was extremity (87%), trunk (12%), and neck (1%). Commonest histological subtypes were myxoid liposarcoma (32%) and myxofibrosarcoma (16%). The majority of patients (88%) received 50 Gy in 25 fractions. Post-radiotherapy imaging was available in 55 cases. By RECIST there was stable disease in 89%, partial response in 7% and progressive disease in 4%. Tumour volumes reduced in 80%. Median change in maximal tumour dimension was −13.6%; median change in volume was greater, at −33.3%. Tumour volumes increased in 11 cases (20%). However, surgical margins were clear in all 11 cases, with no local recurrences in this group. For the entire group, surgical margins were clear in 93%, and microscopically positive in 7%. Eight patients (12%) had local relapse at 2–24.8 months after surgery. Two year local relapse free survival was 87.5%; 2 year overall survival was 74.7%.

Conclusion

The majority of tumours showed reduction in volume. A small number of tumours increased in volume, but there was no definite relationship between volume increase and poor surgical outcomes or lower local control rates. Local control was equivalent to published series' of PRT. PRT is a reasonable approach in patients with borderline resectable tumours.     

Outcomes of isolated limb perfusion in the treatment of extremity soft tissue sarcoma: A systematic review

Background

Isolated limb perfusion (ILP) may provide a limb salvage option for locally advanced soft tissue sarcoma (STS) not amenable to local resection.

Methods

A systematic review was performed for studies reporting outcome of ILP for locally advanced STS performed after 1980 in patients aged ≥12 years old. The main endpoints were tumour response and limb salvage rates. Complication and recurrence rates were secondary endpoints.

Results

Eighteen studies were included, providing outcomes for 1030 patients. Tumour necrosis factor-alpha with melphalan was the commonest chemotherapy regime. When reported, 22% of cases achieved a complete tumour response (216/964, 15 studies) with an overall response rate of 72% (660/911, 15 studies). At median follow-up times ranging between 11 and 125 months, the limb salvage rate was 81% in patients who otherwise would have been subjected to amputation. However, 27% of patients suffered local recurrence and 40% suffered distant failure. ILP was associated with severe locoregional reactions in 4% (22/603) of patients. Amputation due to complications within 30 days was necessary in 1.2% of cases (7/586, nine studies). There was insufficient evidence to determine the effect of ILP on survival.

Conclusion

ILP induces a high tumour response rate, leads to a high limb salvage rate but is associated with a high recurrence rate. It provides a limb salvage alternative to amputation when local control is necessary.     

Treatment and outcome of radiation-induced soft-tissue sarcomas at a specialist institution

Background

Radiation-induced sarcoma (RIS) is a rare late complication of therapeutic irradiation with a reputation for aggressive pathology and poor outcome.

Methods

We retrospectively reviewed histopathological features, surgery and outcome in 67 patients with RIS treated between 1990 and 2005 at a single tertiary referral center.

Results

Previous breast cancer was the most common indication for radiotherapy. The median interval from irradiation to development of RIS of was 11 years (3–36 years). Median tumour size was 7 cm with 56% classified as high grade, 31% intermediate grade and 13% low grade. The commonest histology was leiomyosarcoma. The only relationship for histology with site was for angiosarcoma (n = 9), all of which developed on the chest wall/breast after irradiation for breast cancer. Of 67 patients, 34 underwent potentially curative surgery, and microscopically clear margins were achieved in 75% of cases. Pedicled or free tissue transfer was required in 12 patients and abdominal or chest wall mesh reconstructions were required in 8 patients. No patient received adjuvant radiotherapy but 7 received adjuvant/neoadjuvant chemotherapy. Median follow up is 53 months. Median sarcoma specific survival was 54 months (2- & 5-year survival: 75% & 45%). The local relapse rate was 65%. Negative histopathological margins were a significant predictor of sarcoma specific survival (HR 3.0 95% CI 1.1–8.6 p = 0.04). Grade and size of tumour approached, but did not attain significance.

Conclusion

RIS is a biologically aggressive tumour with high rates of local relapse despite aggressive attempts at curative surgery.     

Value of PET scan in patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma treated with preoperative radiotherapy

Purpose

Preoperative radiotherapy provides advantages in the management of retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS). We describe our experience treating a cohort who underwent pre- and post-radiotherapy functional imaging with FDG-PET scan.

Methods and materials

Consecutive patients presenting between January 1999 and December 2009 with a diagnosis of either primary or recurrent RPS were identified from the hospital patient record database using ICD codes, and cross-referenced with the completed radiotherapy course database. Those patients suitable for preoperative radiotherapy and surgery who underwent both pre- and post-radiotherapy FDG-PET were included. Exclusions included presence of metastatic disease, age under 18 years and/or paediatric histology, and treatment with palliative intent.

Results

Eleven patients were included, of whom six were male. Median age was 63 years (range, 38–78 years). The majority of patients had Stage T2b, high-grade disease. Ten patients were treated at initial presentation and one at first local recurrence. A malignant diagnosis was confirmed in all patients who underwent CT-guided core biopsy; a diagnosis of sarcoma was reached in 91%. Sensitivity of FDG-PET imaging was 100%. Metabolic partial or complete response did not correlate with change in tumour size, nor pathological response assessment. Pulmonary and hepatic metastatic disease was detected in one patient on post-treatment imaging. All patients in the cohort completed preoperative radiotherapy. There was no grade 3 or 4 toxicity. Sixty-four percent proceeded to radical resection. Complete macroscopic excision was achieved in all cases. There was no perioperative mortality.

Conclusion

Combined therapy with preoperative radiotherapy and surgery has acceptable levels of toxicity. CT-guided core biopsy is an accurate means of confirming a diagnosis of RPS prior to definitive treatment. Utility of PET scan in the management of RPS is evolving and further investigation is warranted.     

Factors associated with actual long-term survival following soft tissue sarcoma pulmonary metastasectomy

Aims

To identify clinicopathologic and treatment variables associated with long-term overall survival (OS) in soft tissue sarcoma (STS) patients with lung metastases undergoing pulmonary metastasectomy (PM).

Methods

Retrospective review of 94 STS PM patients with an actual follow-up ≥5 years. Data were collected on demographics, tumor features, treatment, and outcome.

Results

Most primary tumors were intermediate/high grade and the common histopathologies were evenly distributed. Half of the primary tumors were located on the extremities. The mean disease-free interval (DFI) from time of original diagnosis until metastases was 25 months (median 15 months). Eighteen patients had synchronous metastatic disease. Bilateral pulmonary metastases and >1 metastasis were common. The median number of metastases resected was 2.5. Thirty-four patients had extrapulmonary tumor at the time of PM; all extrapulmonary disease was resected. Negative margin resection (R0) PM was performed in 74 patients. Actual 5-year disease-free survival (DFS) and OS for all patients were 5% and 15%, respectively. For the R0 group, actual 5-year DFS and OS were 7% and 18%, respectively. R0 resection and a prolonged DFI were associated with improved OS. Patient characteristics, tumor features, local recurrence, and adjuvant therapy did not affect OS.

Conclusions

Less than 20% of STS PM patients will survive 5 years. Complete resection and DFI are the most predictive factors for prolonged survival.     

Use of tissue expander in pelvic Ewing's sarcoma treated with radiotherapy

Introduction

The local treatment option for pelvic Ewing sarcoma (ES) remains uncertain and challenging as surgery is often disabling while radiotherapy alone has a higher risk of local recurrence but not necessarily a worse survival. The aim is to analyse the outcome of patients with pelvic ES after radiotherapy as the primary local treatment in combination with a temporary intrapelvic surgically placed tissue expander (TE) to reduce bowel complications.

Materials and methods

20 patients were retrospectively analysed. All patients had neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy. We identified survival, time to develop local recurrence and metastasis, dose of radiotherapy administered, local complications related to the use of the tissue expander and bowel effects of radiotherapy.

Results

The median follow-up was 41 months. 14 patients were stage IIb and six stage III. There were no problems after insertion of the TE and only one patient who developed mild diarrhoea. Local recurrence occurred in six patients. At the last follow-up 12 patients have died from sarcoma, five are disease free and three have had recurrent disease.

Conclusions

In this paper we reviewed pelvic Ewing sarcoma with all the special considerations that this entails. We think that tissue expander can be safely used when radiotherapy is chosen to treat pelvic ES. It does appear to prevent bowel problems and is a low morbidity procedure. New treatment approaches should be considered to give a chance of cure to those patients with “bad prognostic” pelvic ES.     

Preoperative radiotherapy of soft-tissue sarcomas: surgical and radiologic parameters associated with local control and survival

Background

Preoperative radiotherapy is often used to facilitate excision of soft-tissue sarcomas. We aimed define factors that affect local tumour control and patient survival.

Methods

A single institution registry study of 89 patients with non-metastatic soft-tissue sarcomas having preoperative radiotherapy between 1994 and 2014. Radiologic (presence of peritumoural oedema and volume change following radiotherapy) and histopathologic (tumour volume, grade and surgical margin) parameters were recorded. Outcomes were the events of local recurrence, amputation, metastasis and death.

Results

Local recurrence rate was low (12%) and marginal excision gave equal local control to wide excision. Pelvic localization was associated with a higher risk for amputation. The absence of peritumoural oedema on MRI defined a subgroup of tumours with more favourable oncologic outcome. Reduction of tumour volume following radiotherapy was also associated with better patient survival. Both these radiologic parameters were associated with lower tumour grade. Tumour necrosis was not significant for patient survival. The local complication rate, mainly wound healing problems and infection, was high (40%), but did not lead to any amputation.

Conclusion

Preoperative radiotherapy of high-risk soft-tissue sarcomas allows for good local control rate at the expense of local wound complications, which are however manageable. Marginal excision is sufficient for local control. Absence of peritumoural oedema on MRI, as well as tumour size reduction following radiotherapy are associated to superior patient survival and can be used ass early prognostic factors.

     

Management of advanced parotid cancer. A systematic review

Background

Primary adenocarcinomas of the parotid gland are rare and account for less than 5% of all head and neck malignant neoplasms. There is considerable variation in biological behaviour within this group; low-grade tumours exhibit slow growth rates with minimal or no local invasion. High-grade tumours, however, show a high incidence of local recurrence and distant metastasis.

Aim

The purpose of this paper is to analyse the important prognostic indicators for this cancer.

Methods

A systematic review was performed involving 19 published studies from 1987 to 2005 which included 4631 patients. T stage, grade of tumour, N stage and adjuvant radiotherapy on overall (5 year) survival were analysed as prognostic indicators.

Results

T stage (p = 0.041, hazard ratio 1.8 (confidence interval 1.2–2.9)), N stage (p = 0.05, hazard ratio 1.1 (0.2–1.8)), and high-grade (p = 0.001, hazard ratio 2.1 (1.5–2.7)) were associated with a significantly worse survival. The effect of adjuvant radiotherapy was to improve overall survival: p = 0.002, hazard ratio 2.9 (1.5–4.7). The mean 5 year survival for advanced high-grade parotid cancer was 35%.

Conclusion

High-grade advanced parotid cancers are associated with a poor survival. Adjuvant radiotherapy is indicated in these tumours and this improves survival.     

Intra-muscular location in soft tissue sarcomas: Impact on oncologic outcome

Background

Soft tissue sarcoma (STS) of intra-muscular location is confined within well-defined barrier, amenable to easier surgical resection. It is generally assumed that STS of intra-muscular location would have favorable outcomes compared to those of inter-muscular location. However, no clear evidence on this assumption can be found. This study examined if intra-muscular location of STS would have favorable effect on oncologic outcomes.

Methods

Among the 161 patients treated for previously untreated, non-metastatic and deep-seated STS, extra-compartmental tumors (65) or tumors that spread beyond the muscle of origin (23) were excluded. Remaining 73 patients were classified into two groups according to tumor location; intra-muscular group (confined within muscle of origin, n = 32) and inter-muscular group (located between muscles, n = 41).

Results

Two patients (6.3%) in intra-muscular group developed local recurrence whereas 10 patients (24.3%) developed local recurrence in inter-muscular group (p = 0.056). Patients in intra-muscular group showed significantly better local recurrence-free survival than those in inter-muscular group (p = 0.029). However, there was no significant difference in development of metastasis (p = 0.143) nor disease-specific survival (p = 0.106).

Conclusions

Our study indicates that STS of intra-muscular location is associated with better local control. Whether this advantage is due to its biological property or surgical resectability remains to be elucidated.     

Clear cell sarcoma of soft tissue: A retrospective review and analysis of 31 cases treated at Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli

Introduction

Clear cell sarcoma (CCS) of soft tissue is a rare melanocytic soft tissue sarcoma with different cytogenetic and natural history than that of melanoma. Objective of this study was to determine outcome predictors in patients treated in our Institute. This objective included the effectiveness of surgical intervention and disease progression after surgery.

Materials and methods

Thirty-one patients were diagnosed at our institute with clear cell sarcoma through tissue pathology and immunohistochemistry. Patients received multimodality treatment (surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy). Five-year survival rates and prognostic predictors were determined.

Results

Sixteen patients were males and 15 females with a median age of 37 years (8–72-years). Twenty-eight tumors were located in extremities and 3 in the trunk area. Eight patients had metastases at their first presentation (6 local lymph nodes and 2 pulmonary metastases). Five and ten-year disease-specific survival rates were 56% and 41%. Two-year disease-specific survival rates for lymph node and pulmonary metastasis groups were 40% and 0%. All metastatic patients died within 5 years follow-up. Five and ten-year disease-specific survival rates for localized tumor cases were 72% and 53%. Male gender, less than 30-years of age, trunk tumor location and size greater than 5 cm were poor prognostic factors according to univariate analysis. Tumor location in the trunk was the only negative prognostic determinant in multivariate model.

Conclusions

Although surgical treatment may be beneficial for tumors without systemic involvement, new chemotherapeutic agents and molecular targeted therapy should be implemented to improve the oncologic outcome in both early and late stage disease.     

Anorectal and sexual functions after preoperative radiotherapy and full-thickness local excision of rectal cancer

Aims

Local excision with preoperative radiotherapy may be considered as alternative management to abdominal surgery alone for small cT2-3N0 tumours. However, little is known about anorectal and sexual functions after local excision with preoperative radiotherapy. Evaluation of this issue was a secondary aim of our previously published prospective multicentre study.

Methods

Functional evaluation was based on a questionnaire completed by 44 of 64 eligible disease-free patients treated with preoperative radiotherapy and local excision. Additionally, ex post, these results were confronted with those recorded retrospectively in the control group treated with anterior resection alone (N = 38).

Results

In the preoperative radiotherapy and local excision group, the median number of bowel movements was two per day, incontinence of flatus occurred in 51% of patients, incontinence of loose stool in 46%, clustering of stools in 59%, and urgency in 49%; these symptoms occurred often or very often in 11%–21% of patients. Thirty-eight per cent of patients claimed that their quality of life was affected by anorectal dysfunction. Nineteen per cent of men and 20% of women claimed that the treatment negatively influenced their sexual life. The anorectal functions in the preoperative radiotherapy and local excision group were not much different from that observed in the anterior resection alone group.

Conclusions

Our study suggests that anorectal functions after preoperative radiotherapy and local excision may be worse than expected and not much different from that recorded after anterior resection alone. It is possible that radiotherapy compromises the functional effects achieved by local excision.     

Accelerated hypo-fractionated radiotherapy for non small cell lung cancer: Results from 4 UK centres

Background and purpose

A variety of radiotherapy fractionations are used as potentially curative treatments for non-small cell lung cancer. In the UK, 55 Gy in 20 fractions over 4 weeks (55/20) is the most commonly used fractionation schedule, though it has not been validated in randomized phase III trials. This audit pooled together existing data from 4 UK centres to produce the largest published series for this schedule.

Materials and methods

4 UK centres contributed data (Cambridge, Cardiff, Glasgow and Sheffield). Case notes and radiotherapy records of radically treated patients between 1999 and 2007 were retrospectively reviewed. Basic patient demographics, tumour characteristics, radiotherapy and survival data were collected and analysed.

Results

609 patients were identified of whom 98% received the prescribed dose of 55/20. The median age was 71.3 years, 62% were male. 90% had histologically confirmed NSCLC, 49% had stage I disease. 27% had received chemotherapy (concurrent or sequential) with their radiotherapy. The median overall survival from time of diagnosis was 24.0 months and 2 year overall survival was 50%.

Conclusion

These data show respectable results for patients treated with accelerated hypo-fractionated radiotherapy for NSCLC with outcomes comparable to those reported for similar schedules and represent the largest published series to date for 55/20 regime.     

Use of boost radiotherapy in oncoplastic breast-conserving surgery – A systematic review

Background

The use of local boost radiotherapy to the tumour bed has been demonstrated in randomised-controlled trials to reduce local recurrence rates following breast-conserving surgery (BCS) and is the standard of care. Oncoplastic BCS techniques with parenchymal rearrangement present new challenges to the localisation of the tumour bed and therefore delivery of local boost radiotherapy. The aim of this review was to evaluate the reporting of boost radiotherapy in the oncoplastic BCS literature.

Methods

Pubmed, Ovid MEDLINE, EMBASE, and the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews were searched for studies reporting oncoplastic BCS using volume displacement techniques.

Results

24 studies met the inclusion criteria (n = 1933 patients). Use of boost radiotherapy was reported in 11 studies, in 2 of which it was for the treatment of incomplete or close margins, and marking of the tumour bed was only reported in 8 studies. None of the studies reported the number of patients where the tumour bed could not be localised.

Conclusions

The use of local boost radiotherapy and tumour bed marking was not reported in the majority of studies of oncoplastic BCS. Future studies need to provide detailed information regarding the use of boost radiotherapy and difficulties determining the target volume so that current radiotherapy approaches can be reviewed and improved for these advanced techniques.     

Extra-abdominal primary fibromatosis: Aggressive management could be avoided in a subgroup of patients

Objective

To evaluate the impact of surgery as first-line treatment on event-free survival (EFS) of primary aggressive fibromatosis.

Patients and methods

Treatments were categorized into: surgery with or without radiotherapy and nonsurgical strategies with systemic treatment alone or wait and see policy. Eighty-nine patients had initial resection of their primary tumour followed by postoperative radiotherapy in 13 cases. Twenty-three did not undergo surgery but received systemic treatment or watch and wait policy.

Results

Median follow-up was 76 months. Overall 3 years EFS was 49%. In the univariate analysis, patients with microscopically complete surgery had a similar outcome to patients in the no-surgery group (3 years EFS of 65% and 68%, respectively). Gender, age, tumour size, treatment period and strategy (surgery versus no-surgery) were not statistically significant. Quality of resection according to margins and the tumour site were the only prognostic factors. There was a significant correlation between tumour site and quality of surgery (p = 0.0002).

Conclusions

A subset of patients with extra-abdominal fibromatosis could be managed with a nonaggressive policy, as growth arrest concerned 2/3 of nonoperated patients. When surgery is finally necessary, it should be performed with the aim of achieving negative margins.     

Neoadjuvant treatment improves capsular integrity and the width of the fibrous capsule of high-grade soft-tissue sarcomas

Background

Neoadjuvant treatment is thought to improve resection with margin-negative surgery in locally advanced soft-tissue sarcomas (STS). Treatment-induced alterations of the tumor peripheryhave not yet been microscopically evaluated.

Objective

This histopathological study compared limb STS with primary resection and those that had undergone neoadjuvant treatment, emphasizing microscopic changes of the fibrous capsule (FC) and reactive zone (RZ) after neoadjuvant treatment.

Patients and methods

Patients with primary high-grade limb sarcomas (N = 76) which have not previously been treated were included. Of those, 37 were primarily resected and 39 were treated with one of the following neoadjuvant treatment modalities: 7x chemotherapy (CTX), 3x radiotherapy (RT), 15x isolated limb perfusion (ILP), 8x CTX + RT, and 6x CTX + ILP. Sizes of the FC and RZ were microscopically measured, and FC-integrity was documented. Histopathologic regression was expressed as a percent.

Results

Only 35.1% of untreated sarcomas showed an intact FC. We observed significantly higher capsular integrity after treatment (76.9%). Additionally, the average width of the FC (0.21 mm vs. 0.61 mm) and RZ (0.67 mm vs. 1.48 mm) increased significantly. The extent of histopathologic regression showed a correlation with capsular integrity and width. The combination of two treatment modalities (CTX + RT or ILP) showed strongest effects at the tumor periphery.

Conclusions

Neoadjuvant treatment stabilizes the tumor periphery in STS (e.g., the capsule). Concerning local treatment strategies, these novel histopathologic insights might significantly influence the decision as to whether primary resection is advisable in advanced local soft-tissue sarcoma.     

Preoperative intensity-modulated and image-guided radiotherapy with a simultaneous integrated boost in locally advanced rectal cancer: Report on late toxicity and outcome

Background and purpose

The addition of chemotherapy to preoperative radiotherapy has been established as the standard of care for patients with cT3-4 rectal cancer. As an alternative strategy, we explored intensity-modulated and image-guided radiotherapy (IMRT–IGRT) with a simultaneous integrated boost (SIB) in a prospective phase II study. Here, we report outcome and late toxicity after a median follow-up of 54 months.

Methods and materials

A total of 108 patients were treated preoperatively with IMRT–IGRT, delivering a dose of 46 Gy in fractions of 2 Gy. Patients (n = 57) displaying an anticipated circumferential resection margin (CRM) of less than 2 mm based on magnetic resonance imaging received a SIB to the tumor up to a total dose of 55.2 Gy.

Results

The absolute incidence of grade ?3 late gastrointestinal and urinary toxicity was 9% and 4%, respectively, with a 13% rate of any grade ?3 late toxicity. The actuarial 5-year local control (LC), progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were 97%, 57%, and 68%. On multivariate analysis, R1 resection and pN2 disease were associated with significantly impaired OS.

Conclusions

The use of preoperative IMRT–IGRT with a SIB resulted in a high 5-year LC rate and non-negligible late toxicity.     

Oncological outcome of patients with deeply located soft tissue sarcoma of the pelvis: A follow up study at minimum 5 years after diagnosis

Aims

The treatment of pelvic soft tissue sarcomas (STS) presents one of the most challenging problems in musculoskeletal oncology because of the complex anatomy of the pelvis, late diagnosis and large tumor size. Our study was designed to determine the outcome and prognostic factors for survival and local recurrence in patients with pelvic STS located deep to the fascia and deemed suitable for curative surgical treatment.

Patients and methods

Ninety consecutive pelvic STS patients with at least 5-year possible follow-up from diagnosis were studied. Mean age at diagnosis was 54 years. Mean follow-up and tumor size were 69 months and 13 cm, respectively. Histological grades were grade 3 in 51, grade 2 in 22 and grade 1 in 17 patients. Tumor locations were extra-pelvic or outside pelvic brim (n = 67), intra-pelvic or within pelvic brim (n = 10), and combined or involving both outside and within pelvic brim (n = 13).

Result

Surgical treatment was excision in 84 patients and hindquarter amputation in 6 patients. In 84 patients who underwent excision, surgical margin was wide in 21 patients, marginal in 33, and intralesional in 30. Radiotherapy was used for all high grade tumors. Disease-specific survival was 53.3% at 5 years. Local recurrence occurred in 23%. Development of local recurrence was related to surgical margin (p = 0.03). Local recurrence, tumor histological grade and metastasis at diagnosis independently influenced disease-specific survival (p = 0.0008, p < 0.0001, p = 0.02, respectively).

Conclusion

The patients with high grade tumors and positive surgical margins represent a particular group with high risk of local recurrence even with radiotherapy.     

Surgical and ablative therapies for the management of adrenal ‘oligometastases’ – A systematic review

Background

We systematically reviewed the literature on the use of surgery, stereotactic ablative body radiotherapy (SABR) and percutaneous catheter ablation (PCA) techniques for the treatment of adrenal metastases to develop evidence-based recommendations.

Methods

A systematic review of the MEDLINE database was performed using structured search terms following PRISMA guidelines. Eligible publications were those published from 1990 to 2012, written in English, had at least five patients treated for adrenal metastasis and reported on patient clinical outcomes (local control, survival and treatment related complications/toxicity). Where possible, pooled 2-year local control and overall survival outcomes were analysed.

Results

Our search strategy produced a total of 45 papers addressing the three modalities – 30 adrenalectomy, nine SABR and six PCA (818, 178 and 51 patients, respectively). There was marked heterogeneity in outcome reporting, patient selection and follow-up periods between studies. The weighted 2-year local control and overall survival for adrenalectomy were 84% and 46%, respectively, compared with 63% and 19%, respectively for the SABR cohort. Only one study of PCA with five patients analysed clinical outcomes, reporting an actuarial local control of 80% at 1 year. Treatment related complications/toxicities were inconsistently reported.

Conclusion

There is insufficient evidence to determine the best local treatment modality for isolated or limited adrenal metastases from any primary tumour. Published data suggests adrenalectomy to be a reasonable treatment approach for isolated adrenal metastasis in suitable patients. SABR is a valid alternative in cases when surgery is not feasible or the operative risk is unacceptable. PCA cannot be recommended until there are more robust studies which include long-term oncological outcomes.