SURGICAL-MANAGEMENT OF PRIMARY RETROPERITONEAL LIPOSARCOMAS

During a 21-year period (1970-1991), 7 patients with primary retroperi toneal liposarcomas were treated surgically in our department. All the tumours were excised completely, and in 2 patients an additional neph rectomy was performed. Postoperatively 4 patients had adjuvant radioth erapy. Two other patients received adjuvant chemotherapy. Both of them had to be reoperated, because of a local recurrence 12 and 9 months a fter their first operation. There was one death on the first postopera tive day, and 4 patients died 1 1/2-2 years after the initial operatio n. Two patients are still alive 34 and 22 months after their first ope ration with recurrent disease. Adjuvant therapy proved to be ineffecti ve on the survival of our patients. The prognosis of retroperitoneal l iposarcomas continues to be poor and the primary treatment has to be a ggressive with complete resection of the tumor.