The Outcome of Extremity Soft Tissue Sarcomas in Terms of Resection Margins: A Study From a Cancer Dedicated Center

Introduction Extremity soft-tissue sarcomas are uncommon malignancies of mesenchymal tissue, it accounts for <1 % of cancers and has a high recurrence rate with positive resection margins and unplanned excision. This study aims to determine the influence of unplanned excision and resection margins on local recurrence, metastasis, and overall survival in soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities. Methods A retrospective review was conducted from January 2005 to December 2015 on all the patients with soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities. Age, sex, histopathology, site, tumor grade, biopsy type, recurrence, metastasis, and end outcome were analyzed. Kaplan-Meir curves were used for Survival analysis, and log-rank or the Cox proportional-hazards regression model was used for Significance analysis. The data were entered into SPSS version 20, and Statistical significance was set at a p-value ≤0.05. Results One hundred forty-five patients with soft tissue sarcoma of extremities were managed with a mean follow-up of 76.3+/-6.7 months. Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma 47 (32.4%) was the most common pathology found in this cohort, followed by Synovial sarcoma 34 (23.4%) and Liposarcoma 19 (13.1%). The most common site of occurrence was lower extremity 102 (70.3%). All the patients had residual disease after unplanned excisions; 107 underwent R0 resection, while 38 underwent R1 resection. Five-year overall survival was 70.2 & 71.1 % for R1 & R0 resections, respectively, and 71.3% for excisional and 74.2% for incisional biopsy. The tumor grade significantly influences overall survival, while other variables were not found to affect Recurrence-free survival and metastasis-free survival. Conclusion The data indicates that the high-grade tumor has a negative influence on overall survival, while resection margins width and unplanned excision have no significant effect on local recurrence, Metastasis free survival, and overall survival; however, before excision, adequate planning and awareness among general surgeons is necessary to improve the surgical morbidity and financial burden over the health care facilities.