Identifying Patterns of Failure and Risk Factors for Recurrence in Patients of Paratesticular Sarcomas: Protocol of a Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

INTRODUCTION: Para testicular sarcomas are rare mesenchymal tumors that affect patients of all ages. Unlike other sites of sarcoma, they tend to be of lower grade and have a higher propensity for lymphatic spread. Management is hampered by the small number of patients who differ in terms of tumor grade and histology. Current treatment approaches are based on case reports, small case series and literature reviews, resulting in a number of unresolved issues. The consensus on the type of surgery and adjuvant treatment is yet to be determined. The local relapse rates in the scrotum and groin after orchidectomy comes out to be 25%–37%, indicating the need for either aggressive surgery or adjuvant treatment. There is a paucity of data identifying the patterns of failure and risk factors for recurrence, which will help clinicians tailor appropriate treatment. METHODS: We aim to perform a systematic review and meta-analysis of the available data in the last 50 years in a methodologically rigorous and transparent manner to identify patterns of failure and high-risk factors for recurrence. The protocol is prepared in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA-P) 2015 guidelines. The protocol is registered in the International Prospective Register of Systematic Reviews (CRD42021237134). HIGHLIGHTS: Para testicular sarcomas are rare mesenchymal tumors that affects patients of all ages. Current treatment approaches are based on case reports, small case series and literature reviews, resulting in a number of unresolved issues. A systemic review was performed in 2013 based on survival rates, prognostic factors, and relapse sites on paratesticular sarcomas. However, it lacks a comprehensive review that can guide radiation oncologists to select in which patient’s postoperative radiotherapy is warranted and define the target volume based on histopathological type, stage, and grade of the tumor. After 2013, new case series with improved methodology and sample size are published, which adds new information to the literature. In one case series, 22 patients with spermatic cord sarcoma were discussed, while in another study, long-term outcome analysis of 51 patients was discussed, and another study discussed eight patients.