Accreditation for centers of sarcoma surgery.

Soft-tissue sarcomas (STS) are a heterogeneous group of neoplasms which may be subclassified into over 70 specific histologies and may be distributed throughout the body. Approximately one-half arises in the extremities and one-third arises in the abdomen, pelvis, and retroperitoneum. The diversity and rarity of sarcomas combined with the quite large number of affected patients are factors which underline of the importance of networking in diagnosis, therapy, and research dealing with rare cancers. The expertise of the treating center is one of the most significant factors affecting survival in STS. The optimal treatment of locally recurrent disease is to prevent it; aggressive multidisciplinary treatment of the primary disease is thus required, as adjuvant therapies cannot compensate for inadequate surgery. Treatment within specialized multidisciplinary teams (MDTs) is crucial; a body of expertise in all the areas of diagnosis and treatment is required to manage STS appropriately. Conformity to approved treatment guidelines is improved when patients are treated by an MDT in a reference centre. Traditionally, peer-reviewed literature has discussed the surgical management of STS based on the site of origin. While the site of origin remains an important consideration, it has become increasingly clear that surgery must also be tailored to specific sarcoma histology to more accurately reflect tumor biology and pattern of recurrence. All sarcoma operations, included retroperitoneal surgery, should be performed in specialized centres to ensure optimal outcomes.