Is radiotherapy important for low-grade soft tissue sarcoma of the extremity?

Abstract

Radiotherapy and limb-preserving surgery has replaced amputation and compartmental resection for treatment of soft tissue sarcomas. However, the role of radiotherapy in low-grade tumors remains unclear. This study reviews the outcomes of 132 patients who received multi-modality treatment for low-grade soft tissue sarcoma. Large primary tumors (> 5 cm) and the absence of radiotherapy correlated with local recurrence. Radiotherapy was most effective in patients operated on with marginal margins. Patients who were treated with wide surgical margins or had small tumors (≤ 5 cm) showed no benefit with adjuvant radiotherapy. Size greater than 5 cm and local recurrence correlated with metastasis. R..