SONOGRAPHIC EVALUATION OF LOCAL RECURRENCES OF SOFT-TISSUE SARCOMAS

The aim of our study was to establish whether ultrasonography can be p roposed as the main diagnostic technique for the follow-up of soft tis sue sarcoma (STS). In 26 patients with previous history of STS, a sono graphic examination was carried out using a 5 MHz linear transducer to identify early local recurrences. Sonography was performed every 3 mo nths and a computed tomographic (CT) control was made when the sonogra m showed findings strongly suggestive of recurrence. STS recurrences w ere detected by sonography in 20 of 26 patients (77%) and were confirm ed by histologic examination. In six cases, sonographic results were u ncertain and in three of these the recurrence was ascertained by biops y. CT scan provided a correct diagnosis in 16 patients (61.5%) and onl y in cases with lesions greater than 5 cm in diameter. From our experi ence we conclude that high frequency sonography is a most accurate non invasive approach in early detection of STS recurrences. CT plays an i mportant role in the cases amenable to surgery treatment and is recomm ended to obtain a better assessment of anatomic connection between tum or and adjacent structures.