Abstract

Extremity liposarcoma: prognostic indicators

Author(s): Pedro Roque, Henry J Mankin, Francis J Hornicek and Theodore Nyame

Background: Over the past 30 years, the Orthopedic Oncology Service at the Massachusetts General Hospital has treated 211 patients with liposarcomas of the extremities.

Materials & methods: Using records maintained in a specifically designed computer system, a retrospective study was conducted that was designed to identify prognostic factors that significantly influence survival outcomes.

Results: The overall survival rate for the group of patients was 68% with a mean follow-up of 10.5 ± 6.9 years. Patient gender had no effect on survival outcome, but age of the patient was significantly correlated with survival data, with the poorest survival for patients aged 60 years or older. The Musculoskeletal Tumor Society Stage of the lesion had a profound effect on outcome. In addition, anatomic site was correlated with survival outcomes with a 70 and 64% survival for patients with lesion about the shoulder or pelvis, compared with a 100% survival for tumors of the leg, ankle and foot, and 83% for arm, forearm and hand. Pleomorphic and dedifferentiated tumors had a poorer outcome than other forms.

Conclusion: Liposarcoma of peripheral soft areas are sometimes difficult to treat based on the variation in outcome with site, stage and type of tumor.