Purpose
Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are rare,
heterogeneous lesions derived from the embryonic mesoderm,
accounting for approximately 1% of adult cancers.
Suit et al.
suggested that their low incidence perhaps accounted for an apparent delay in detailed knowledge of their natural history (1). Dangoor et al.,
indirectly corroborated this statement,
noting that the rarity,
heterogeneity and diffuse location of these lesions had created challenges in establishing concrete evidenced-based guidelines (2).
Patients can present with solitary lesions or de novo metastatic disease,
with metastatic disease at first...
Methods and Materials
Primary STS diagnoses were identified from the sarcoma multidisciplinary team meeting between March and July 2015 at the Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital.
Demographic,
histopathological and staging data was collected retrospectively from the electronic patient record.
Consultant musculoskeletal radiologists MK and AF reviewed all imaging identifying anatomical locations of primary STS.
Results
52 patients were reviewed with a median age of 59 years (range 23-89 years),
details of which are summarised in table 1.
The thigh (37%) was the commonest primary STS location,
myxofibrosarcoma (Fig 2 and 3) and spindle sarcoma were the commonest histological subtypes (14% both groups respectively; table 2).
Tumour site was available for all tumour types with the thigh the commonest overall (37%).
Tumour grade was available for 32 patients (60%),
of these,
68% (21/32) had grade 3 tumours (table 3). 30 involved...
Conclusion
Our results demonstrated that superficial primary STS infiltrated the skin more commonly than deeper lesions which frequently involved muscle and bone.
Both groups however demonstrated the same degree of metastatic involvement.
These results underline the importance of accurate staging on presentation with a primary STS,
regardless of the depth of the lesion.
References
1.
Suit HD.
Sarcoma of soft tissue.
CA: A Cancer Journal for Clinicians.
American Cancer Society; 1978 Sep 1;28(5):284–95.
2. Dangoor A,
Seddon B,
Gerrand C,
Grimer R,
Whelan J,
Judson I.
UK guidelines for the management of soft tissue sarcomas.
Clin Sarcoma Res.
2016;6:20.
3.
Noebauer-Huhmann IM,
Weber M-A,
Lalam RK,
Trattnig S,
Bohndorf K,
Vanhoenacker F,
et al.
Soft Tissue Tumors in Adults: ESSR-Approved Guidelines for Diagnostic Imaging.
Semin Musculoskelet Radiol.
2015 Dec;19(5):475–82.
4.
Grimer R,
Athanasou N,
Gerrand C,
Judson I,
Lewis...
Personal Information
Dr Anesh Chavda MRCPFRCR
Radiology department,Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital,
Stanmore,
UK.
[email protected]
Dr Luigi Pedone MD
Radiology department,Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital,
Stanmore,
UK.
Dr Michael KhooFRCR
Radiology department,Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital,
Stanmore,
UK.
Dr Anastasia Fotiadou MD PHD
Radiology department,Royal National Orthopaedic Hospital,
Stanmore,
UK.