Dynamic pion irradiation of unresectable soft tissue sarcomas

Since November 1981, when pion irradiation was introduced for deep seated tumors at the Swiss Institute for Nuclear Research (SIN, now Paul Scherrer Institute, PSI) a dynamic, 3-dimensional spot scan treatment technique has been in use. To exploit this technique a special optimization treatment planning system has been designed. Of a total of 331 patients treated with pions from November 1981-December 1987, 35 were irradiated for unresectable soft tissue sarcomas. In 32/35 patients, tumor sites were retroperitoneal, pelvic or in the groin or thigh. Twenty-nine tumors had a maximum diameter of greater than 10 cm, 18 tumors of greater than 15 cm; 30 tumors had grade 2/3 and 32 Stage III B/IV A/IV B. Eight of 35 patients received a low pion total dose, 7-27 Gy. Twenty-seven patients received a total dose of 30-36 Gy, fraction size 150-170 cGy (90%-isodose), 20 fractions, 4 times per week. Of these 27 patients, severe late reactions appeared in five: 2/8 patients with extremity/groin sarcomas (1/2 caused by biopsy) and 3/19 patients with retroperitoneal/pelvic sarcomas (one a skin reaction after Actinomycin-D, one a small bowel reaction after 36 Gy, a dose no longer used). Seven of 27 patients had metastases at the beginning of irradiation. Three of 27 were treated with excisional biopsy, 9 with incisional biopsy or partial resection and in 15 patients biopsies were performed for histology only. The median follow-up of these 27 patients was 17 months (5-66). There was no progression in eight extremity/groin tumors but in 4 of 19 retroperitoneal/pelvic tumors. Three of these were marginal progressions. The actuarial 5-year rate of local tumor control is 64%; the actuarial 5-year survival rate of patients without metastases at the beginning of treatment is 58%. Dynamic spot scan pion irradiation proves to be a successful treatment technique for unresectable sarcomas with a high rate of tumor control and a very low rate of severe late reactions.     

Retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas: A pilot study of intraoperative radiation therapy

This pilot study was conducted to evaluate the feasibility and tolerance of a multimodal therapy of retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma (STS), including intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT). Nineteen patients (14 primarily treated patients and 5 treated for a recurrent tumor) were included. Surgery included a complete resection (14), a partial resection (2), and no resection (2). The median IORT dose was 17 Gy. Thirteen patients also received an external radiation therapy (ERT). Nine patients received chemotherapy. There was no postoperative mortality. Immediate postoperative complications occurred in four patients (21%). Delayed complications occurred in six patients, including one lethal iliac artery disruption. With a median follow-up of 17 months, the 2-year disease-free survival rate was 60%, and the 2-year actuarial local control rate was 76%. A multimodality approach of treatment, including IORT and ERT and eventually chemotherapy, appears feasible in patients with retroperitoneal STS. However, the treatment-related morbidity appeared relatively high in this study. © 1996 Wiley-Liss, Inc.     

75例腹膜后软组织肉瘤的临床分析

目的　分析腹膜后软组织肉瘤的预后和放射治疗作用。方法　 75例中 ,5 0例为首程治疗 ,2 5例为局部复发后再治疗。 5 0例初治患者均接受手术治疗 ,其中 13例接受术后放射治疗。 2 5例外院术后复发再治疗患者有 16例接受手术 ,其中 3例接受术后放射治疗 ,另 9例接受单纯放射治疗。结果　全组、初程和复发再治疗患者的 5年总生存率分别为 39%、4 0 %和 37%。全组患者手术完整切除、部分切除和未切除的 5年生存率分别为 5 2 .7%、36 .6 %和 0 % ;完整切除和部分切除或未切除的生存率间差异有显著性意义 (P值分别为 0 .0 0 7、0 .0 0 0 ) ,但部分切除与未切除的 5年生存率间差异无显著性意义 (P =0 .196 )。手术完整切除的 4 1例患者 ,未放射治疗和放射治疗的 5年局部复发率分别为4 7%和 6 0 % (P =0 .880 ) ,5年生存率分别为 5 1%和 6 0 % (P =0 .780 )。手术部分切除和未切除的 2 5例患者 ,未放射治疗和放射治疗的 5年生存率分别为 17%和 4 4 % (P =0 .15 1)。结论　腹膜后软组织肉瘤的治疗以手术为主 ,手术完整切除可显著提高生存率。常规体外放射治疗的作用尚不肯定     

Long-term results of intraoperative electron beam radiotherapy for primary and recurrent retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma

PURPOSE: This study assesses the long-term outcome of patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma treated by preoperative external beam radiotherapy, resection, and intraoperative electron beam radiation (IOERT). METHODS AND MATERIALS: From 1980 to 1996, 37 patients were treated with curative intent for primary or recurrent retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma. All patients underwent external beam radiotherapy with a median dose of 45 Gy. This was followed by laparotomy, resection, and IOERT, if feasible. Twenty patients received 10-20 Gy of IOERT with 9-15 MeV electrons. These patients were compared to a group of 17 patients receiving preoperative irradiation without IOERT. RESULTS: The 5-yr actuarial overall survival (OS), disease-free survival, local control (LC), and freedom from distant disease of all 37 patients was 50%, 38%, 59%, and 54%, respectively. After preoperative irradiation, 29 patients (78%) underwent gross total resection. For 16 patients undergoing gross total resection and IOERT, OS and LC were 74% and 83%, respectively. In contrast, these results were less satisfactory for 13 patients undergoing gross total resection without IOERT. For these patients, OS and LC were 30% and 61%, respectively. Four patients experienced treatment-related morbidity. CONCLUSIONS: In selected patients, IOERT results in excellent local control and disease-free survival with acceptable morbidity.     

Intraoperative electron beam radiation therapy for retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma

From December 1981 to December 1989, 20 patients with primary or recurrent retroperitoneal sarcoma received 4000 to 5000 cGy of external beam radiation therapy (EBRT) in conjunction with surgical resection and intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT). Seventeen of 20 patients underwent complete (14 patients) or partial (3 patients) resection. Three patients had shown evidence of metastases after EBRT by the time of surgery. The 4-year actuarial local control and disease-free survival rates of the 17 patients undergoing resection were 81% and 64%, respectively. Twelve patients received IORT at the time of resection for microscopic disease (10 patients) or gross residual sarcoma (2 patients). Of the ten patients receiving IORT for microscopic tumor, one patient has died of local failure and peritoneal sarcomatosis and two patients have died of distant metastases only. The remaining seven patients are disease-free. One patient treated for gross residual sarcoma has experienced a local failure 1 year after IORT and is without disease 7 years after salvage chemotherapy. The other patient treated for gross residual sarcoma has died of local failure. Five patients did not receive IORT at the time of resection because of the extensive size of the tumor bed. Three of these patients are disease-free with one patient alive with lung metastases and one patient dying of hepatic metastases. Aggressive radiation and surgical procedures appear to provide satisfactory resectability and local control with acceptable tolerance.     

Surgical treatment of tendosynovial sarcoma.

Tendosynovial sarcoma is notorious for its high rates of local recurrence and metastases after surgical treatment. A retrospective study was made of 109 cases of monobloc wide soft part resection and amputation for primary tumors, and 29 patients who underwent resection of pulmonary metastases. Actuarial five-year survival rates after soft part resection was 70% for untreated, and 61% for previously treated, locally recurrent neoplasms. Corresponding rates after amputation were 47% and 64%. Local tumor recurrence developed in 18% of the primary soft part resections and 4% of the amputations, usually when some basic surgical principle had been violated. 35% five-year survival was achieved with judicious resection of solitary and multiple lung metastases in most cases without chemotherapy. Local control of a tendosynovial sarcoma can be achieved with properly executed surgical procedures which adhere to established tenets of cancer surgery. Resection of pulmonary metastases merits an important position in the management of these patients.     

A combination of intraarterial chemotherapy, preoperative and postoperative radiotherapy, and surgery as limb-saving treatment of primarily unresectable high-grade soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities

The localization and size of a high-grade soft tissue sarcoma of an extremity are generally the limiting factor in limb-saving surgery. Since 1982 nine patients with a high-grade soft tissue sarcoma of an extremity, which usually requires amputation, have been treated by intraarterial chemotherapy, preoperative and postoperative radiotherapy, and surgery. The limb was saved in eight patients (89%). During a median follow-up of 24 months (mean follow-up 32 months, range 12 to 64 months) one local recurrence and four distant metastases were diagnosed. Three patients developed complications due to the intraarterial chemotherapy, a motor and sensory neuropathy of the sciatic nerve was diagnosed in one patient, and two patients developed a flexion contracture of the knee. The results obtained in this small series show that the combination of intraarterial doxorubicin, preoperative and postoperative radiotherapy, and surgery is feasible in limb-saving treatment of primarily "unresectable" high-grade soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities without increasing the risk of a local recurrence.     

The management of retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma: a single institution experience with a review of the literature.

AIM: Ten percent of soft tissue sarcomas (STS) arise in the retroperitoneal tissues. The prognosis for patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma is poor with a 5-year survival rate between 12% and 70%. Stage at presentation, high histological grade, unresectable primary tumour and incomplete resection are associated with a less favourable outcome. METHODS: Complete follow-up data were available on 22 patients who underwent surgery for retroperitoneal STS in our institution between 1990 and 2000. Patient, tumour and treatment variables were analysed including use of adjuvant therapy and survival status. RESULTS: Eighteen patients underwent surgery for primary disease, four patients were treated for recurrent disease or metastases. Ten patients presented with pain, seven with an abdominal mass, other presentation included weight loss and haematuria. Thirteen patients presented with tumours larger than 10 cm. The tumours were seven liposarcomas, six leiomyosarcomas, three malignant fibrous histiocytomas, two rhabdomyosarcomas, two malignant schwannomas and two undifferentiated sarcomas. Six primary tumours were completely excised, five patients received radiotherapy and five received chemotherapy. Local recurrence rate was 45% and recurrence-free interval for 10 patients with recurrence was 11 months. Five patients received radiotherapy and five received chemotherapy. The median survival for patients with primary tumours was 36 months, and 5-year survival was 44%. Adjuvant therapy was not associated with higher survival rates. CONCLUSION: This study re-emphasizes the poor outcome of patients with retroperitoneal STS. Adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy do not appear to be any proven benefit and the single most important prognostic factor is aggressive successful en bloc resection of the primary tumour. Our resection rate and 5-year survival rates are comparable with previous reported UK series although lower than large reports from North American centres. This might partly be explained by difficulty in data collection in a retrospective analysis, but may reflect inadequate subspecialization in UK centres. Copyright Harcourt Publishers Limited.     

Clear cell sarcoma of tendons and aponeuroses in pediatric patients: a report from the Italian and German Soft Tissue Sarcoma Cooperative Group

BACKGROUND: Clear cell sarcoma (CCS) of tendons and aponeuroses is extremely rare in childhood and little information is available on its clinical management. Originally believed to be a type of melanoma of soft tissue origin, CCS is now considered a distinct clinicopathologic entity that behaves like a high-grade soft tissue sarcoma. We report on a series of 28 pediatric patients treated from 1980 to 2000 by the Soft Tissue Sarcoma Italian Cooperative Group and the German Cooperative Group. METHODS: Patients were treated with a multimodality therapeutic approach. Surgical resection was complete in 17 patients (mutilating in 3), radiotherapy was administered to 8 patients, and 20 patients received chemotherapy. RESULTS: After a median follow-up of 102 months (range, 19-238 months), the 5-year and event-free survival rates were 66.4% and 63.3%, respectively. Seventeen patients were alive in first remission, two were alive in second remission, and nine had died of disease. The response to chemotherapy in the 7 evaluable patients included one partial remission, one minor response, and five no responses. Radiotherapy contributed to achieving local control in four of six Intergroup Rhabdomyosarcoma Study (IRS) Group II patients. Statistically significant differences in outcome were evident according to IRS group, tumor size, and site. CONCLUSIONS: Our study confirms the aggressive behavior of CCS. Complete surgical resection represents the mainstay of treatment, and even the only treatment for patients with small tumors. Radiotherapy may control microscopic residual disease after surgery. Chemotherapy is ineffective and the prognosis is unfavorable for patients with unresectable and large tumors.     

Adjuvant therapy for sarcomas.

Adjuvant therapy is currently established in the treatment of osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma. Of the 12 reported randomized studies of adjuvant chemotherapy for soft tissue sarcoma, only 2 show a significant overall survival advantage for chemotherapy (the most important endpoint). In three randomized trials, the survival of the observation arm exceeds that of the chemotherapy arm. In two additional studies, subset analyses currently indicate a significant DFS advantage for adjuvant chemotherapy in extremity lesions, but no significant improvement in survival. Although initial NCI reports showed significantly prolonged survival for the subset of chemotherapy-treated extremity primaries, survival on longer follow-up is no longer significantly different. In the subset analysis of retroperitoneal sarcomas in the same NCI study, the survival of the control group is superior to the treatment group. Doxorubicin associated cardiotoxicity has occurred in about 10% of treated patients, occasionally contributing to treatment-related deaths. Based on these data, adjuvant chemotherapy should be considered investigational for adult soft-tissue sarcomas of any primary site. Future randomized trials should include patients at high risk for metastases (large, high-grade lesions) with a reasonable likelihood of local control by radical resection, or resection with uninvolved margins and subsequent radiotherapy. Low-grade sarcomas are currently cured by surgical resection in 80% of cases, and thus should not be included in adjuvant trials.     

骨肿瘤规范化治疗与研究展望

近30年来,骨与软组织肿瘤的治疗在整个骨科领域中所占的比重虽然不大,但其进步是非常显著的。随着化疗的引入,手术技术的提高,综合治疗和规范化治疗的倡导,骨与软组织肿瘤的诊治水平和策略有了长足的发展。对于常见的骨与软组织原发肿瘤,治疗的总体方案归结为以手术为主导,放化疗为辅助的综合治疗,患者的生存率较前大大提高,复发率明显降低,功能评定显著改善。在当前的总体治疗策略上,我们仍然一贯地推崇骨肿瘤的规范化治疗,并不遗余力地在全国进行推广。倡导规范化、推动规范化、推崇创新研究,是目前骨肿瘤学科的鲜明特点。     

Retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma: an analysis of radiation and surgical treatment

PURPOSE: To evaluate the clinical outcomes of patients with localized retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma (STS) treated with complete surgical resection and radiation. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The medical records of 83 patients were reviewed retrospectively. Sixty patients presented with primary disease and the remaining 23 had recurrence after previous surgical resection. RESULTS: With a median follow-up of 47 months, the actuarial overall disease-specific survival (DSS), distant metastasis-free survival, and local control (LC) rates were 44%, 67%, and 40%, respectively. Of the 38 patients dying of disease, local disease progression was the sole site of recurrence for 16 patients and was a component of progression for another 11 patients. Multivariate analysis indicated that histologic grade was associated with the 5-year rates of DSS (low-grade, 92%; intermediate-grade, 51%; and high-grade, 41%, p = 0.006). Multivariate analysis also indicated an inferior 5-year LC rate for patients presenting with recurrent disease, positive or uncertain resection margins, and age greater than 65 years. The data did not suggest an improved local control with higher doses of external-beam radiation (EBRT) or with the specific use of intraoperative radiotherapy (IORT). Radiation-related complications (10% at 5 years) developed in 5 patients; all had received their EBRT postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: Although preoperative radiation therapy and aggressive surgical resection is well tolerated in patients, local disease progression continues to be a significant component of disease death. In this small cohort of patients, the use of higher doses of EBRT or IORT did not result in clinically apparent improvements in outcomes.     

134 例原发性腹膜后软组织肉瘤的临床诊治分析

目的:探讨原发性腹膜后软组织肉瘤的临床特点及诊治方法。方法:收集中国医学科学院肿瘤医院1999年1 月至2010年7 月所收治的134 例原发性腹膜后软组织肉瘤的临床资料，回顾性分析其临床特点和治疗方式对患者生存期的影响。结果:腹部肿块、腹痛、腹胀为最常见的临床表现。本组患者总的5 年生存率为37.8% ，行根治性切除术患者的5 年生存率为46.5% ，行姑息性切除术患者的5 年生存率为6.7% ，仅行剖腹探查患者的3 年生存率为0。结论:根治性手术切除是原发性腹膜后软组织肉瘤治疗的首选方法，辅助性化疗、放疗的作用有待进一步研究。      

Survival benefits of adjuvant chemotherapy with oral doxifluridine (5'-DFUR) following radiotherapy in patients with unresectable pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: The combination of 5-fluorouracil and radiotherapy is thought to be the most effective treatment for locally unresectable pancreatic carcinoma. The outcomes, however, are far from acceptable from the viewpoint of long-term survival. We assessed the survival benefits of oral adjuvant chemotherapy with doxifluridine (5'-DFUR) following radiotherapy for patients with the disease. METHODS: Thirty-five consecutive patients who underwent bypass surgery and radiotherapy for localized advanced unresectable adenocarcinoma of the pancreas head were retrospectively reviewed in regard to disease progression and survival. Ten of the 35 patients underwent adjuvant chemotherapy with 5'-DFUR after radiotherapy in an outpatient setting. RESULTS: The 1-year survival for patients treated with radiotherapy alone was 29%. The 1-, 2-, and 3-year survivals for patients treated with the adjuvant chemotherapy after radiotherapy were 50, 40, and 30%, respectively (P = 0.0069, log-rank test). The elevation of tumor markers was delayed (P = 0.0346) and local control rate was improved (P = 0.0475) in patients with chemotherapy. Multivariate analysis demonstrated that the adjuvant chemotherapy with 5'-DFUR was a significant independent prognostic factor as well as tumor size. CONCLUSIONS: The adjuvant chemotherapy with 5'-DFUR following radiotherapy led to a significant prolongation of the survival for patients with unresectable localized pancreatic cancer.     

Stages IE and IIE non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the stomach. Comparison of treatment modalities

Seventy-nine patients with Stages IE and IIE non-Hodgkin's lymphomas of the stomach were treated between 1953 and 1980. The histopathologic classification was as follows: diffuse large cell, 61 (of which 23 were immunoblastic sarcomas [plasmacytoid]); diffuse well-differentiated lymphocytic, 6; diffuse mixed, 1; undifferentiated non-Burkitt's, 1; nodular, 9; and unclassifiable, 1. Thirty-five patients had Stage IE disease and 44 had Stage IIE. Treatment modalities included surgery, radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and combinations thereof. Sixty-six patients had a laparotomy for diagnosis and/or management. Of these, only 42 had a gastrectomy. The stomach was considered to be unresectable in the other 24 patients. There were 5 postoperative deaths among 31 patients who had a laparotomy or gastrectomy at our institution. The overall 5-year actuarial survival was 56%; the disease-free survival was 54%. For patients with Stage IE disease the survival was 76%, and for those with Stage IIE, 42%. Promising results were obtained in 13 patients who were treated on a multimodality program consisting of four cycles of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine, and prednisone (CHOP) plus bleomycin (Bleo), which was alternated with involved field radiotherapy. All 13 patients had no evidence of disease as of this report. Only one patient had a relapse (Waldeyer's ring), and he was salvaged with radiotherapy. Six of these 13 were diagnosed by endoscopic biopsy and did not have a laparotomy, 3 were found to have unresectable disease at laparotomy, and 4 had a resection. Biopsy with the flexible fiberscope and treatment with CHOP-Bleo and radiotherapy can avoid the morbidity and mortality of gastrectomy.     

Radiation therapy of retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas

Between 1971 and 1982, 23 patients have been treated with radiation therapy at the Massachusetts General Hospital (MGH) for retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcomas. Seventeen patients were treated with curative intent and six with palliative intent. Of the patients treated with curative intent, the 5 year actuarial survival rate was 54% and the 5 year actuarial local control rate was also 54%. With a complete surgical resection local tumor control was obtained in 5 of 7 patients (71%), 4 of 7 (57%) with incomplete resection and 1/3 (33%) with no resection having local control. The radiation dose appeared to influence tumor control with 2 of 6 patients (33%) having local control with less than 5,000 cGy compared to 0 of 5 patients with doses of 5,000 to 6,000 cGy and 5 of 6 (83%) with doses greater than 6,000 cGy. An effect of tumor grade on either local control or on rate of metastasis formation could not be demonstrated in this series. Long-term local control and survival appears to be associated with maximal surgical resection and high dose radiation therapy.     

快中子放射治疗软组织肉瘤的疗效分析

目的回顾分析快中子与快中子、光子混合照射治疗软组织肉瘤的疗效及其影响因素.方法 52例患者共79个病灶,其中19例37个病灶采用35 MeV p→Be快中子治疗,33例42个病灶混合照射.单纯中子组剂量4.0～21.0 Gy(中位值11.7 Gy).混合照射组中子剂量3.9～16.0 Gy(中位值8.8 Gy),光子剂量9.0～62.0 Gy(中位值34.0 Gy),总剂量(16.5～69.4 Gy,中位值42.0 Gy).中子分次剂量0.8～1.5 Gy(中位值1.2 Gy),周二、五照射;光子为常规分割. 结果病灶局部控制率为48.7%,在治疗和随访中仅有24.1%的病灶出现进展.非转移性病灶、肿瘤较小以及放射治疗前手术切除是局部控制的有利因素(P< 0.05).混合照射总剂量与局部控制及无进展时间显著正相关(rs=0.453,r=0.288,P值分别为0.001和0.032).混合照射较单纯中子对病灶局部控制的改善接近于有显著性意义(57.1%∶35.5%,χ2=3.60,P=0.058).全组患者的1、3、5年生存率分别为57.3%、20.5%、13.7%,远地转移为主要死因.肿瘤组织学分级较低和接受混合照射的患者生存率较高.全组病灶3+4级近期放射反应发生率为2.7%,远期的为19.0%. 结论快中子治疗软组织肉瘤可以取得较好的局部控制,中子、光子混合照射有可能改善疗效,不能手术或术后残留的G1或G2级肿瘤适用于快中子治疗,放射反应的发生率可以接受.     

腺泡状软组织肉瘤的临床和预后分析

目的探讨腺泡状软组织肉瘤(ASPS)的临床特点、治疗方法和预后情况。方法58例ASPS患者除6例就诊时即发现远处转移未行手术治疗外,其余52例均行手术治疗,其中19例行局部切除术,33例行扩大切除术。19例术后接受辅助性放疗或化疗。58例患者均获得随访,中位随访时间为52个月。结果50例肿瘤完整切除患者中,11例(22.0%)出现局部复发。全组58例患者中,31例(53.4%)发生肺转移。全组总的3、5和10年生存率分别为89.5%、74.1%和57.7%。中位生存时间为125个月。男性患者的3、5和10年生存率分别为79.6%、67.2%和49.7%,女性患者分别为100.0%、81.6%和65.3%(P=0.026)。结论ASPS恶性程度不高,肿瘤生长较为缓慢,局部复发率不高,但远处转移较为常见,肺是其最常见的转移器官。手术切除仍是目前治疗局限期ASPS的惟一有效手段。术后辅助性放化疗对控制局部复发和远处转移效果并不令人满意。女性患者的预后好于男性。     

Liver metastases from extremity soft tissue sarcoma

Liver involvement by soft tissue sarcoma is an unfavorable prognostic factor for survival. Complete resection of liver metastases can bring improvement in selected patients, but chemotherapy remains the only palliative treatment option for most. Anecdotal long-term survival of patients with unresectable liver metastases treated with systemic chemotherapy has been reported, such as the patient presented here.     

Long-term outcomes after function-sparing surgery without radiotherapy for soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities and trunk.

PURPOSE: To define the rate of local recurrence (LR) and identify prognostic factors for LR for patients with soft tissue sarcoma (STS) treated with function-sparing surgery (FSS) without radiotherapy (RT). PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between 1970 and 1994, 242 patients with STS of the trunk and extremity presented with primary localized disease, 74 of whom were treated with FSS without RT (31%). The median tumor size was 4 cm (range, 0.5 to 31 cm). There were 40 patients with grade 1 tumors and 34 with grade 2 and 3 tumors. Median follow-up was 126 months. RESULTS: The 10-year actuarial local control rate was 93% +/- 4%. Resection margin status was a significant predictor for LR. Patients with closest histologic resection margins of less than 1 cm had a 10-year local control rate of 87% +/- 6% compared with 100% for patients with closest histologic resection margins of >/= 1 cm (P =.04). There was no significant association between LR and tumor grade, size, site (truncal v extremity), or depth (superficial v deep). For all patients, the 10-year actuarial survival rate was 73% +/- 6%. CONCLUSION: The 7% LR rate after treatment of STS with FSS without RT reported herein is comparable to published rates following treatment where adjuvant RT is used. These results suggest there may be a select subset of patients with STS in whom carefully performed FSS may serve as definitive therapy and in whom adjuvant RT may not be necessary. However, further study is needed to carefully define this subset of patients and to identify the optimal surgical approach and technique for patients treated without RT.