BACKGROUND: Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of follow-up tests for detecting first local and distant recurrences in patients with primary extremity soft tissue sarcoma. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed all adult cases of primary extremity soft tissue sarcoma (n = 174) treated between 1982 and 1992. Patients were observed every 3 months for 2 years, every 4 months the third year, every 6 months the next 2 years, and annually, thereafter. Each visit consisted of taking the patient's history, a physical examination, a complete blood count, a blood chemistry panel, and a chest x-ray. For high-grade tumors, the primary site was imaged annually when clinically appropriate. RESULTS: Of 141 patients who were assessable, 29 patients developed local recurrence and 57 developed distant recurrence. All but one of the local recurrences was detected on the basis of an abnormal physical examination. Of the 29 patients who developed local recurrence, 25 were resected. Distant metastases were detected because of symptoms in 21 cases. Of the 36 asymptomatic lung recurrences, 30 were detected by follow-up chest x-ray. Of the 36 asymptomatic lung recurrences, 24 patients underwent metastasectomy. The positive and negative predictive values of surveillance chest x-ray were 92% and 97%, respectively. Laboratory testing never led to the detection of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Close surveillance by clinical assessment and chest x-ray is appropriate for follow-up observation of patients with primary extremity soft tissue sarcoma.
BACKGROUND: Our objective was to evaluate the effectiveness of follow-up tests for detecting first local and distant recurrences in patients with primary extremity soft tissue sarcoma. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed all adult cases of primary extremity soft tissue sarcoma (n = 174) treated between 1982 and 1992. Patients were observed every 3 months for 2 years, every 4 months the third year, every 6 months the next 2 years, and annually, thereafter. Each visit consisted of taking the patient's history, a physical examination, a complete blood count, a blood chemistry panel, and a chest x-ray. For high-grade tumors, the primary site was imaged annually when clinically appropriate. RESULTS: Of 141 patients who were assessable, 29 patients developed local recurrence and 57 developed distant recurrence. All but one of the local recurrences was detected on the basis of an abnormal physical examination. Of the 29 patients who developed local recurrence, 25 were resected. Distant metastases were detected because of symptoms in 21 cases. Of the 36 asymptomatic lung recurrences, 30 were detected by follow-up chest x-ray. Of the 36 asymptomatic lung recurrences, 24 patients underwent metastasectomy. The positive and negative predictive values of surveillance chest x-ray were 92% and 97%, respectively. Laboratory testing never led to the detection of recurrence. CONCLUSIONS: Close surveillance by clinical assessment and chest x-ray is appropriate for follow-up observation of patients with primary extremity soft tissue sarcoma.
Authors: George D Demetri; Laurence H Baker; Derrick Beech; Robert Benjamin; Ephraim S Casper; Ernest U Conrad; Thomas F DeLaney; David S Ettinger; Martin J Heslin; Ray J Hutchinson; Krystyna Kiel; William G Kraybill; G Douglas Letson; James Neff; Richard J O'Donnell; I Benjamin Paz; Raphael E Pollock; R Lor Randall; Karen D Schupak; Douglas S Tyler; Margaret von Mehren; Jeffrey Wayne Journal: J Natl Compr Canc Netw Date: 2005-03 Impact factor: 11.908
Authors: Adriana C Gamboa; Cecilia G Ethun; Jeffrey M Switchenko; Joseph Lipscomb; George A Poultsides; Valerie Grignol; J Harrison Howard; T Clark Gamblin; Kevin K Roggin; Konstantinos Votanopoulos; Ryan C Fields; Shishir K Maithel; Keith A Delman; Kenneth Cardona Journal: J Am Coll Surg Date: 2019-08-01 Impact factor: 6.113
Authors: Antoine Digonnet; Marc Hamoir; Guy Andry; Vincent Vander Poorten; Missak Haigentz; Johannes A Langendijk; Remco de Bree; Michael L Hinni; William M Mendenhall; Vinidh Paleri; Alessandra Rinaldo; Jochen A Werner; Robert P Takes; Alfio Ferlito Journal: Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol Date: 2012-10-26 Impact factor: 2.503