Background: Aggressive surgery has been suggested for improving local tumor control in patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma (RS). This study aimed at investigating local disease-free and overall survival after complete surgery, in patients with RS.
Patients and methods: Retrospective data of patients submitted to complete surgery for RS were extracted from a prospectively-maintained database.
Results: Forty-three out of 78 patients (55%) presented with primary RS. Infiltrated organs were resected in 42 patients (54%). Patients presenting with recurrent (hazard ratio (HR)=5.57, p=0.002) and high-grade (HR 3.47, p=0.041) tumors were at higher risk of local recurrence. Microscopically-involved tumor resection margins (HR=3.47, p=0.04) and recurrent tumor at presentation (HR=2.49, p=0.008) were independent predictors of poor survival.
Conclusion: Patients presenting with primary RS had longer local disease-free survival and overall survival than those with recurrent tumor after complete surgery. Complete surgery remains the standard-of-care for patients with primary RS.
Keywords: Retroperitoneal sarcoma; disease-free survival; overall survival; soft tissue sarcoma.