Background: Myxofibrosarcoma is characterized by a high local recurrence rate despite optimal surgical treatment. The definition of prognostic factors for recurrence offers high-risk patients a closer follow-up and a multidisciplinary therapeutic approach.
Methods: A cohort of 23 patients treated for primary myxofibrosarcoma was retrospectively analyzed. The patients (sex and age), tumors (size, stage, tumor location, bone and/or joint attachment), radiological findings (abnormal signal extension in MRI), histological findings (FNCLCC grade and microscopic extension along the muscle fascia), and treatment (surgical margin) characteristics were included in univariate prognostic factor analysis.
Results: After a median follow-up of 63.3 months (range 15-191), the overall recurrence rate was 34.7%. Median time between initial surgery and recurrence was 24.8 months (range 8-52). Inadequate surgical margins (p = 0.026) and bone and/or joint attachment (p = 0.001) were associated with an increased recurrence rate.
Conclusion: For the further improvement of local recurrence-free survival of patients with myxofibrosarcoma, accurate diagnosis of the tumor extension and adequate planning for the surgical margin should be focused on in cases with bone and/or joint attachment.