Prognostic factors in superficial adult soft tissue sarcomas: Analysis of a series of 105 patients

Background and Objectives: This study was undertaken to study the behavior of superficial soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and determine the factors related to prognosis. Methods: The clinical records of 105 adults (56 men, 49 women, mean age: 56 .4 years) were retrospectively analyzed. Univariate analysis was performed on the entire group for overall survival (OS), and metastasis-free survival (MFS). Local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) was studied only on patients first treated in our institute. Results: With a median follow-up of 111.9 months, 66 (62.9%) patients were alive; 25 (23.8%) had died of their disease. For the entire series, 10-year OS and MFS were 62.5% and 71.9% respectively. For fifty-two patients treat ed for their sarcoma at the Institution since the first tumor occurrence ev ent, 10-year LRFS was 80%. Tumor grade was the only factor correlated with OS and MFS, while tumor size was the main factor correlated with LRFS. Conclusion: Tumor size affects local control in STS while tumor grade is co rrelated with OS and MFS. J. Surg. Oncol. 1999;71:4-9. (C) 1999 Wiley-Liss, Inc.