[Retroperitoneal sarcomas: a single center experience].

PURPOSE To analyse the management and clinical outcome of patients treated for retroperitonal soft tissue sarcoma and to identify prognosis factors. PATIENTS AND METHODS This is a retrospective study of 20 adults ; 11 women and nine men treated between 1980 and 2000 in our institution. RESULTS There were seven liposarcomas and 13 leiomyosarcomas. The mean tumor size was 26 cm. Three patients underwent a complete resection (R0), 14 patients an incomplete resection (R1/R2) with microscopic or macroscopic tumour remained after surgery. Only three patients had a surgical biopsy. Median follow-up was 18 months. Overall survival rates was 45%, 10% at two and five years, respectively. Among the following factors, sex, age, symptom duration, tumor size, histologic type, histologic grade, resection type, mitotic index, necrosis extension, histologic differentiation, and AJCC stage, only mitotic index factor (scale 1,2 versus scale 3) significantly influenced patient survival (p = 0.02). CONCLUSIONS This study re-emphasizes the poor outcome of patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma. Survival rates appeared low when compared with other studies. These results incite for a more aggressive approach.