Assessment of quality of life using the EORTC 30 protocol in patients with soft tissue sarcoma undergoing surgical treatment

Rev Col Bras Cir. 2024 Nov 25:51:e20243766. doi: 10.1590/0100-6991e-20243766-en. eCollection 2024.
[Article in English, Portuguese]

Abstract

Objective: To evaluate the quality of life among patients with Soft Tissue Sarcomas treated at the Evangelic Mackenzie Hospital (HUEM) from 2018 to 2024 and undergoing surgical treatment.

Material and methods: descriptive and cross-sectional analysis of 23 patients with soft tissue neoplasia who underwent surgery and whether they underwent neoadjuvant or adjuvant clinical treatments. Epidemiological, clinical, and pathological data were considered. The EORTC 30 protocol was the instrument used for assessing the patients' quality of life.

Results: the main cases were located at extremity in females. Mean age at diagnosis was 47 years. All patients were symptomatic at diagnosis, with pain and a palpable mass being the most prevalent symptom and clinical sign, respectively. The mean time from the onset of symptoms to the date of diagnosis was 9 months. The mean tumor size was 11.68cm. Considering the functional scale, the items physical functioning, role performance and social function were the most affected in the assessment of quality of life. Fatigue and loss of appetite were the most common sign and symptom, respectively. A global measure of quality of life achieved high rates when 50% of patients rated as excellent.

Conclusion: Continuous and multidisciplinary oncological care provided to the patient allows for better symptom control, resulting in higher quality of life, which positively impacts the patient's adherence to treatment, their progression, and possibly their survival.

Objetivo:: Avaliar a qualidade de vida de pacientes portadores de Sarcomas de Partes Moles tratados no Hospital Universitário Evangélico Mackenzie (HUEM) no período de 2018 a 2024 e submetidos à tratamento cirúrgico.

Material e Métodos:: análise descritiva e transversal de 23 pacientes portadores de neoplasia de partes moles operados e submetidos ou não a tratamentos clínicos neoadjuvantes ou adjuvantes. Foram considerados dados epidemiológicos, clínicos e patológicos. A avaliação da qualidade de vida dos pacientes foi realizada utilizando o protocolo EORTC 30.

Resultados:: Predominaram pacientes do sexo feminino e com sarcomas de partes moles de extremidades. A idade média ao diagnóstico foi de 47 anos. Todos eram sintomáticos ao diagnóstico, sendo a dor e massa palpável o sintoma e sinal clínico mais prevalente, respectivamente. O tempo médio desde o inicio dos sintomas até a data do diagnóstico, foi de 9 meses. O tamanho tumoral médio foi de 11,68 centímetros. Considerando a escala funcional, os itens: capacidade física, desempenho de papéis e função social foram os mais afetados na avaliação da qualidade de vida. Fadiga e perda de apetite foram os sinais e sintomas mais comuns, respectivamente. A medida global de qualidade de vida alcançou taxas elevadas demonstrando boa qualidade de vida dos pacientes.

Conclusão:: O cuidado oncológico contínuo e multidisciplinar oferecido ao paciente possibilita um melhor controle dos sintomas, levando a uma qualidade de vida mais elevada, o que influencia positivamente a adesão do paciente ao tratamento, sua evolução e, possivelmente, a sua sobrevida.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Cross-Sectional Studies
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Quality of Life*
  • Sarcoma* / psychology
  • Sarcoma* / surgery
  • Soft Tissue Neoplasms / surgery
  • Young Adult