DIAGNOSTIC PROCEDURES AND PRETREATMENT EVALUATION OF SOFT-TISSUE SARCOMAS

The diagnosis and preoperative evaluation of patients with a suspected soft tissue sarcoma involve several important considerations to ensur e optimal treatment outcomes. Biopsy techniques must involve the retri eval of adequate tissue to establish the histologic diagnosis and grad e of the tumor without compromising the subsequent definitive surgical resection. CT or MRI techniques represent the gold standard to evalua te the local extent of disease which is necessary to ascertain surgica l resectability and/or the need for radiation therapy. CT scanning of the lungs is mandated for all patients with sarcomas to evaluate for m etastatic disease and, for patients with abdominal or retroperitoneal tumors, scanning of the liver should also be included. Accurate stagin g of these patients will help define overall survival. (C) 1994 Wiley- Liss, Inc.