Multifactorial Analysis of Long-term Follow-up (More Than 5 Years) of Primary Extremity Sarcoma

• Published in: Archives of surgery (Chicago. 1960) Vol. 134; no. 2; pp. 190 - 194
• Main Authors: Lewis, Jonathan J, Leung, Denis, Casper, Ephraim S, Woodruff, James, Hajdu, Steven I, Brennan, Murray F
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Chicago, IL American Medical Association 01.02.1999
• Subjects: Biological and medical sciences; Dermatology; Disease-Free Survival; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Leg; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Multivariate Analysis; Sarcoma - mortality; Soft Tissue Neoplasms - epidemiology; Soft Tissue Neoplasms - mortality; Soft Tissue Neoplasms - secondary; Survival Rate; Time Factors; Tumors of the skin and soft tissue. Premalignant lesions; Human; Sarcoma; Follow up study; Primary; End; Soft tissue; Malignant tumor; Multivariate analysis; Long term; Survival
• ISSN: 0004-0010; 2168-6254; 1538-3644; 2168-6262
• DOI: 10.1001/archsurg.134.2.190

BACKGROUND The majority of survival studies in patients with extremity soft tissue sarcoma have focused on early recurrence and mortality. There are few data addressing long-term follow-up and survival. OBJECTIVE To analyze survival and recurrence in patients with extremity soft tissue sarcoma who survive for more than 5 years. METHODS Patients who underwent treatment for primary tumors (July 1982 to July 1994) and were followed up for more than 5 years were the subject of study. Disease-specific and disease-free survival were determined actuarially. Significance was evaluated using log-rank testing for univariate analysis and Cox model stepwise regression for multivariate analysis. RESULTS A total of 495 patients with primary extremity tumors were treated before July 1989 and eligible for 5-year follow-up. Of these, 282 have been followed up for more than 5 years (median follow-up, 84.4 months). Actuarial disease-specific survival of patients who survive for longer than 5 years was 79%±7% (±SEM) at 10 years, and of those who were metastasis free at 5 years was 91%±4% at 10 years. On univariate analysis, post–5-year disease-specific survival was influenced by positive microscopic margin and initial tumor size of 5 cm or greater. On multivariate analysis, post–5-year disease-specific survival was influenced only by positive margins. CONCLUSIONS Based on these analyses, 21% of patients with primary extremity sarcoma who survive for 5 years will die of disease within 5 years. Even of those who are metastasis free at 5 years, 9% will die of disease within 5 years. In contrast to early mortality, tumor grade has no influence on post–5-year prognosis. Patients with positive microscopic margins are at risk for post–5-year disease-specific mortality and therefore require long-term follow-up and consideration for investigational therapy.Arch Surg 1999;134:190-194-->