BUTTOCKECTOMY AS A LIMBSAVING PROCEDURE FOR LOCALLY ADVANCED SOFT-TISSUE SARCOMA OF THE BUTTOCK REGION

Aims. To investigate the effectiveness of a buttockectomy, an unusual surgical procedure for locally advanced soft tissue sarcoma of the but tock region. Methods. Nine buttockectomy procedures were performed in eight patients for primary (8) or recurrent (1) locally advanced soft tissue sarcoma of the buttocks. Adjuvant external beam radiation thera py was applied within 6 weeks after seven procedures. There were no po st-operative complications. Results. No local recurrences occurred in this series. However, distant metastases developed in five patients (6 3%) after a mean follow-up of 16 months (range 6-25). Overall and dise ase-free 5-year survival rates were 38 and 25%, respectively. Conclusi on. Buttockectomy with post-operative external beam radiation therapy may be an effective limbsaving treatment option to achieve local tumou r control in selected soft tissue sarcomas of the buttock region witho ut an increased surgical and/or radiation-induced morbidity.