PARASPINAL SOFT-TISSUE SARCOMA - CLASSIFICATION OF 14 CASES

Fourteen patients were treated surgically for soft-tissue sarcoma aris ing in the paraspinal muscles. Eleven patients received adjuvant irrad iation administered before or after resection. In describing the treat ment and outcomes of these patients, a new classification of paraspina l soft-tissue sarcoma is introduced that is based on the anatomic rela tionship of the tumor to the spinal lamina and the epidural space. Thi s classification can be used in planning combined modality treatment f or paravertebral sarcomas. Lesions that extent through the lamina into the epidural space present an unanswered problem for local control.