Worse Survival in Elderly Patients with Extremity Soft-Tissue Sarcoma

Nearly half of soft-tissue sarcoma (STS) patients are over the age of 65, and the behavior of cancer in these elderly patients is poorly understood. The aim of this study was to assess the impact of age, sarcoma histotype, grade, stage, and treatment modalities on survival of extremity STS (ESTS) patients. Patients a parts per thousand yen18 years diagnosed with ESTS between 1989 and 2008 were selected from the Netherlands Cancer Registry. Survival rates and patient and treatment characteristics were analyzed for all patients. Relative survival and relative excess risk of death were estimated for young (<65 years) and older (> 65 years) patients. Overall, 3066 patients were included in this study. Histotype was different between young (<65 years) and elderly (> 65 years) patients (p <0.001). Patients over the age of 65 were more often diagnosed with high-stage ESTS and an increasing proportion of high-grade ESTS (p <0.001). The proportion of patients who received no treatment increased with age, and the elderly received fewer combined-modality treatments. Age was significantly associated with relative 5-year survival [72.7 % for younger patients and 43.8 % for the oldest elderly (> 85 years)]. In multivariable analysis, age still remained a significant prognostic factor. Different distribution of sarcoma histotypes, more high-stage and high-grade sarcomas at diagnosis, less aggressive treatment, and worse survival rates emphasize the need for optimizing sarcoma research and care of the elderly

Isolated Limb Perfusion and External Beam Radiotherapy for Soft Tissue Sarcomas of the Extremity: Long-Term Effects on Normal Tissue According to the LENT-SOMA Scoring System

BACKGROUND: With the combined treatment procedure of isolated limb perfusion (ILP), delayed surgical resection and external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) for locally advanced soft tissue sarcomas (STS) of the extremities, limb salvage rates of more than 80% can be achieved. However, long-term damage to the healthy surrounding tissue cannot be prevented. We studied the late effects on the normal tissue using the LENT-SOMA scoring system. PATIENTS AND METHODS: A total of 32 patients-median age 47 (range 14-71) years-were treated for a locally advanced STS with ILP, surgical resection and often adjuvant 60-70 Gy EBRT. After a median follow-up of 88 (range 17-159) months, the patients were scored, using the LENT-SOMA scales, for the following late tissue damage: muscle/soft tissue, peripheral nerves, skin/subcutaneous tissue and vessels. RESULTS: According to the individual SOM parameters of the LENT-SOMA scales, 20 patients (63%) scored grade-3 toxicity on one or more separate items, reflecting severe symptoms with a negative impact on daily activities. Of these patients, 3 (9%) even scored grade-4 toxicity on some of the parameters, denoting irreversible functional damage necessitating major therapeutic intervention. CONCLUSIONS: In evaluating long-term morbidity after a combined treatment procedure for STS of the extremity, using modified LENT-SOMA scores, two-thirds of patients were found to have experienced serious late toxic effects

Long-Term Locoregional Vascular Morbidity After Isolated Limb Perfusion and External-Beam Radiotherapy for Soft Tissue Sarcoma of the Extremity

Background: Isolated limb perfusion (ILP) with tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-alpha) and melphalan, followed by delayed surgical resection and adjuvant external-beam radiotherapy is a limb salvage treatment strategy for locally advanced soft tissue sarcomas. The long-term vascular side effects of this combined procedure were evaluated. Methods: Thirty-two patients were treated for a locally advanced sarcoma of the upper (n = 5) or lower limb (n = 27). All patients underwent a noninvasive vascular work-up. Results: Five patients underwent a leg amputation, in two cases due to critical leg ischemia 10 years after ILP. With a median follow-up of 88 (range, 17-159) months, none of the patients with a salvaged lower leg (n = 22) experienced peripheral arterial occlusive disease. Ankle-brachial index (ABI) measurements in the involved leg (median, 1.02; range, .50-1.20) showed a significant decrease compared with the contralateral leg (median, 1.09; range, .91-1.36, P = .001). Pulsatility index (PI) was decreased in the treated leg in 17 of 22 patients at the femoral level (median, 6.30; range, 2.1-23.9 vs. median, 7.35; range, 4.8-21.9; P = .011) and in 19 of 20 patients at popliteal level (median, 8.35; range, 0-21.4 vs. median, 10.95; range, 8.0-32.6; P <.0005). In patients with follow-up of > 5 years, there was more often a decrease in ABI (P = .024) and PI at femoral level (P = .011). Conclusions: ILP followed by resection and external-beam radiotherapy can lead to major late vascular morbidity that requires amputation. Objective measurements show a time-related decrease of ABI and femoral PI in the treated extremity

Cecal volvulus caused by a large uterine leiomyoma

Introduction: Cecal volvulus is a relatively uncommon encountered clinical condition. Presentation of case: A 48-year-old patient known with a large uterine leiomyoma, presented with progressive abdominal pain since one week. An abdominal computed tomography scan revealed a very large leiomyoma of the uterus, severely distended loops of the small bowel with a caliber change and a suggested ‘whirl sign’ of the mesenteric vessels. A laparotomy was performed, showing a very large uterus as well as torsion of the mesentery of the cecum with a sharp demarcated area of necrosis of the right hemicolon. Discussion: Cecal volvulus due to a large uterine mass is a rare encountered clinical entity. The suggested mechanism might be the same mechanism causing cecal volvulus during pregnancy; the enlarged uterus raisingout the mobile cecum out of the pelvis. Obstruction may occur from kinking of the colon at a fixed point. Conclusion: This case demonstrates that uterine leiomyoma can be a cause of a cecal volvulus, leading to severe intestinal strangulation

TNF Dose Reduction and Shortening of Duration of Isolated Limb Perfusion for Locally Advanced Soft Tissue Sarcoma of the Extremities Is Safe and Effective in Terms of Long-Term Patient Outcome

Background and Objectives: Dose reduction and shortening of duration of perfusion in isolated limb perfusion with TNF-alpha and Melphalan (TMILP) are associated with less systemic toxicity and seem to be safe and effective on short-term. However, data on long-term patient outcome are scarce. Methods: From 1991 to 2008, 102 TM-ILPs were performed in 98 patients for a locally advanced soft tissue sarcoma of the extremity. Perfusions were categorized in three groups: (A) high dose and long duration (n = 59), (B) high dose and short duration (n 16), and (C) low dose and short duration (n = 27). Long-term local control rates and (limb)-survival were evaluated. Results: Limb salvage rates were in group A 76.3%, B 62.5%, and C 85.2% (P = 0.2). With a median follow up of 76 (range 4-203) months, 50 patients were still alive (51%). Disease-specific 5-year survival was not different between the three groups: A 55.4%, B 52.5%, and C 57.3% (P = 0.9). There was no difference in local recurrence-free 5-year survival (adjusted P = 0.1) and distant metastases-free survival (P = 0.9). Conclusions: Dose reduction and shorter duration of TM-ILP seem to be safe and effective regarding long-term patient outcome, as 5-year local control rates and (limb)-survival are not compromised. J. Surg. Oncol. 2011;103:648-655. (C) 2011 Wiley-Liss, Inc