Objective: To assess the presentation, imaging features, and prognostic factors of primary soft tissue sarcoma of mediastinum.
Methods: The clinical data of 22 patients with primary soft tissue sarcoma of mediastinum, 12 males and 10 females, aged 46 (28-69), hospitalized over 27 years were retrospectively reviewed, focusing on the clinical presentations, preoperative diagnosis, imaging features, immunohistochemical studies, treatment, and survival.
Results: Chest pain, dyspnea, cough, and shoulder pain were the most common complaints. Imaging findings showed large lobulated mass. The overall 5-year survival rate was 62. 8%. The 5-year survival rate of the patients with tumors larger than 10 cm was 65.6%, significantly higher than that of the patients with tumors smaller than 10 cm (38.8% , P = 0. 019). The long-term survival rate of the patients who received complete resection was 84 months , longer, though not significantly, than that of the patients who received incomplete resection (8 months, P = 0.059). The 5-year survival rate of the patients with lesions at high grade and stage III were 38.2% and 38.2% respectively, both lower, though not significantly, than those of lesions at low grade and stage I (60% and 60% respectively, both P =0.317). The 5-year survival rate of the patients who received surgery only was 8 months, shorter, though not significantly, than that of the patients who received surgery plus adjuvant therapy (12 months, P = 0.204).
Conclusion: Tumor size and character of resection are important prognostic factors for primary soft tissue sarcoma of mediastinum.