MANAGEMENT OF EXTREMITY SOFT-TISSUE SARCOMAS

Management of extremity soft-tissue sarcomas requires accurate clinica l staging, pathologic diagnosis, surgical resection with a wide margin , and adjuvant radiation therapy for high-grade lesions. Brachytherapy offers a clean benefit in local control for large (> 5 cm) high-grade sarcomas. The role of radiation therapy for small high-grade and all low-grade soft-tissue sarcomas still is being evaluated. Survival is f unction of histologic grade, age of patient, size and location of the tumor, metastases, and adequacy of the surgical resection. Efficacy of chemotherapy has yet to be proven.