Surgery and postoperative radiotherapy in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas in adults.

A retrospective review of 100 selected patients with soft tissue sarcomas treated by conservative excision and postoperative radiation therapy shows the following: 1. In extremity lesions, a functional limb can be preserved. The 5 year survival rate free of disease is 62 per cent (23/37). 2. The control rate of the soft tissue sarcomas is related to the anatomic site of origin rather than histologic type of the tumor except rhabdomyosarcomas. In lesions of the extremities, the control rate is 82 per cent (51/62). 3. The first manifestation of spread is usually distant metastasis rather than regional lymph node metastasis. 4. The complications can be minimized if sufficient attention is given to the placement of the surgical scar and the radiotherapeutic technique.