Major amputation for soft-tissue sarcoma.

M A Clark; J M Thomas

doi:10.1002/bjs.4004

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PubMed · 12520584

Major amputation for soft-tissue sarcoma.

M A Clark·J M Thomas

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Abstract

BACKGROUND: Advances in oncological practice have reduced the number of major amputations performed for soft-tissue sarcoma, but this remains a valuable, if infrequent, option for both curative and palliative indications. METHODS: A review of patients and case-notes was carried out from the prospective sarcoma database at the Royal Marsden Hospital. RESULTS: Over a 10-year interval, 40 major amputations (18 forequarter, 17 hindquarter and five through hip) were performed, predominantly for disease recurring after previous limb-conserving surgery (31 of 40). A wide variety of soft-tissue sarcoma subtypes was seen; they were often large (more than 10 cm; 18 of 40) or multifocal (six), usually high grade (25), and frequently proximal or involving neurovascular structures such that limb salvage was precluded. Median range age of the patients was 59 (17-87) years. The operative 30-day mortality rate was zero. Hospital stay was a median of 10.5 days for forequarter amputation, and 19 days for hindquarter and through-hip amputation. Local recurrence occurred in ten patients, six of whom had concurrent distant metastases. Twenty-seven patients were alive (20 disease free) at a median follow-up of 12 months, nine of whom were alive without evidence of disease beyond 2 years. Ten patients died after a median of 7.5 months; three survived more than 2 years. CONCLUSION: Major amputation is a useful procedure in carefully selected patients with soft-tissue sarcoma.

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M A Clark, J M Thomas. 2003. Major amputation for soft-tissue sarcoma.. https://doi.org/10.1002/bjs.4004

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