[Morphologic diagnosis of malignant soft tissue tumors--aspects of radical treatment from the viewpoint of the pathologist].

Malignant soft tissue tumors can be characterized and their tumor biology evaluated by histopathological and immunohistochemical methods and grading procedures in a much better way than ever before. Furthermore CT and other physical methods give us optimal information about local tumor extension and in some way also about tumor spread for further therapy planning. All criteria should be used for decisions on local tumor extirpation, compartment extirpation or amputative procedures. Local tumor behaviour (original multifocality, pseudomultifocality by local spread and formation of trabant tumor foci) as well as tendency to lymphatic spread (f.i. synovial sarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma) must also be considered in therapy planning.