Effect of Insurance Status on Mortality in Adults With Sarcoma of the Extremities and Pelvis: A SEER-Medicare Study.

INTRODUCTION: Previous studies have highlighted the association between insurance status and poor outcomes after surgical treatment of sarcomas in the United States.1-3 It is unclear how much of this disparity is mediated by confounding factors such as medical comorbidities and socioeconomic status and how much can be explained by barriers to care caused by insurance status. METHODS: Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results-Medicare linkage data were procured for 7,056 patients undergoing treatment for bone and soft-tissue sarcomas in the extremities diagnosed between 2006 and 2013. A Cox proportional hazards model was used to assess the relative contributions of insurance status, medical comorbidities, tumor factors, treatment characteristics, and other demographic factors (race, household income, education level, and urban/rural status) to overall survival. RESULTS: Patients with Medicaid insurance had a 28% higher mortality rate over the period studied, compared with patients with private insurance (hazard ratio, 1.28; 95% confidence interval, 1.03 to 1.60, P = 0.026), even when accounting for all other confounding variables. The 28% higher mortality rate associated with having Medicaid insurance was equivalent to being approximately 10 years older at the time of diagnosis or having a Charlson comorbidity index of 4 rather than zero (hazard ratio, 1.27). DISCUSSION: Insurance status is an independent predictor of mortality from sarcoma, with 28% higher mortality in those with pre-expansion Medicaid.4,5 This association between insurance status and higher mortality held true even when accounting for numerous other confounding factors. Additional study is necessary into the mechanism for this healthcare disparity for the uninsured and underinsured, as well as strategies to resolve this inequality.

Transcutaneous Oximetry Does Not Reliably Predict Wound-healing Complications in Preoperatively Radiated Soft Tissue Sarcoma.

BACKGROUND: Surgical wound-healing complications after tumor resections in tissue that has been preoperatively radiated are a major clinical problem. Most studies have reported that complications occur in more than 30% of patients undergoing such resections in the lower extremity. There is currently no available method to predict which patients are likely to have a complication. Transcutaneous oximetry has been identified in preliminary studies as potentially useful, but the available evidence on its efficacy for this application thus far is inconclusive. QUESTIONS/PURPOSES: (1) Does transcutaneous oximetry measurement below 25 mmHg at any location in the surgical wound bed predict a wound-healing complication? (2) Does recovery (increase) in transcutaneous oxygen measurement during the rest period between the end of radiation and the time of surgery protect against wound-healing complications? METHODS: A prospective, multi-institution study was coordinated to measure skin oxygenation at three timepoints in patients undergoing surgery for a lower extremity soft tissue sarcoma after preoperative radiation. Between 2016 and 2020, the five participating centers treated 476 patients for lower extremity soft tissue sarcoma. Of those, we considered those with a first-time sarcoma treated with radiation before limb salvage surgery as potentially eligible. Based on that, 21% (98 of 476) were eligible; a further 12% (56 of 476) were excluded because they refused to participate or ultimately, they were treated with a flap, amputation, or skin graft. Another 1% (3 of 476) of patients were lost because of incomplete datasets or follow-up less than 6 months, leaving 8% (39 of 476) for analysis here. The mean patient age was 62 ± 14 years, 62% (24 of 39) of the group were men, and 18% (7 of 39) of patients smoked cigarettes; 87% (34 of 39) of tumors were intermediate/high grade, and the most common histologic subtype was undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. In investigating complications, a cutoff of 25 mmHg was chosen based on a pilot investigation that identified this value. All patients were assessed for surgical wound-healing complications, which were defined as: those resulting in a return to the operating room, initiation of oral or IV antibiotics, intervention for seroma, or prolonged wound packing or dressing changes. To answer the first research question, we compared the proportion of patients who developed a wound-healing complication between those patients who had any reading below 25 mmHg (7 of 39) and those who did not (32 of 39). To answer the second question, we compared the group with stable or decreased skin oxygenation (22 of 37 patient measurements [two patients missed the immediate postoperative measurement]) to the group that had increased skin oxygen measurement (15 of 37 measurements) during the period between the end of radiation and the surgical procedure; again, the endpoint was the development of a wound-healing complication. This study was powered a priori to detect an unadjusted odds ratio for wound-healing complications as small as 0.71 for a five-unit (5 mmHg) increase in TcO 2 between the groups, with α set to 0.05, ß set to 0.2, and a sample size of 40 patients. RESULTS: We found no difference in the odds of a wound-healing complication between patients whose transcutaneous oxygen measurements were greater than or equal to 25 mmHg at all timepoints compared with those who had one or more readings below that threshold (odds ratio 0.27 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.05 to 1.63]; p = 0.15). There was no difference in the odds of a wound-healing complication between patients who had recovery of skin oxygenation between radiation and surgery and those who did not (OR 0.63 [95% CI 0.37 to 5.12]; p = 0.64). CONCLUSION: Transcutaneous oximetry cannot be considered a reliable test in isolation to predict wound-healing complications. This may be a function of the fact that transcutaneous oximetry samples a relatively small portion of the landscape in which a wound-healing complication could potentially arise. In the absence of a reliable diagnostic test, clinicians must still use their best judgment regarding surgical timing and work to address modifiable risk factors to avoid complications. The unanswered question that remains is whether there is a skin perfusion or oxygenation issue at the root of these complications, which seems likely. Alternative approaches that can assess the wound more broadly and in real time, such as fluorescent probes, may be deserving of further investigation. LEVEL OF EVIDENCE: Level II, diagnostic study.

Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy and Endoprosthetic Reconstruction for Lower Extremity Sarcomas: Does Timing Impact Complication Rates?

INTRODUCTION: Sarcoma patients undergoing surgical resection and endoprosthetic reconstruction often receive neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NACT). The objective of the current study was to determine if the timing of NACT impacts the rates of surgical site infections (SSI) and reoperations. METHODS: This study was a secondary analysis of the recently published Prophylactic Antibiotic Regimens in Tumor Surgery trial. Patients who underwent NACT, tumor resection, and endoprosthetic reconstruction for a bone or soft tissue sarcoma were included. Multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression models were created to evaluate if NACT timing was predictive of SSI or reoperations. RESULTS: Overall, 216 patients from 39 clinical sites were included in the analysis. The most common diagnosis was osteosarcoma (75%), followed by Ewing's sarcoma (16%). The median time from completion of NACT to surgery was 24 days (interquartile range 15-42 days). Eighty-five (39%) patients underwent surgery within 3 weeks of completing NACT, 78 (36%) underwent surgery 3-6 weeks after completing NACT, and 53 (22%) patients underwent surgery > 6 weeks after completion of NACT. The timing of NACT did not impact SSI rates or reoperation rates. Longer operative time was an independent predictor of both SSI [hazard ratio (HR) per hour of 1.21, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.07-1.40; p = 0.002] and reoperation rates (HR of 1.15 per hour, 95% CI 1.03-1.28; p = 0.014). CONCLUSION: The timing of surgery following NACT varied considerably. Chemotherapy timing did not impact SSI or reoperations in patients undergoing surgical resection and endoprosthetic reconstruction in sarcoma patients.

Complex Reconstruction for Acetabular Pathologic Fracture in Unusual Chondroblastoma With Aneurysmal Bone Cyst.

Treating bone loss with complex arthroplasty poses a significant challenge for the arthroplasty surgeon. When considering a reconstructive case after pathologic fracture and oncologic excision, a multidisciplinary approach with reliance on arthroplasty principles is critical. An 18-year-old patient presented with a complex acetabular pathologic fracture through a chondroblastoma with a secondary aneurysmal bone cyst. An outside institution performed a biopsy and placed a hip-spanning external fixator. Multidisciplinary planning led to tumor excision, complex acetabular arthroplasty reconstruction including structural bone grafting, and internal fixation. At the third year of follow-up, there was no evidence of mechanical loosening of the hip arthroplasty, reoperation, or tumor recurrence. The structural graft was completely osseointegrated, confirmed by a computed tomography scan obtained at 2 years postoperatively. This report demonstrates an unusual location of chondroblastoma, presenting with acetabular fracture definitively treated with complex multidisciplinary reconstruction leading to an excellent outcome in a young patient.

Why Rotationplasty? A Qualitative Study of Decision-Making by Families of Patients With Primary Bone Sarcoma.

Rotationplasty is an established technique that is indicated as part of the surgical reconstruction for certain patients with primary bone tumors around the knee who undergo tumor resection. There is considerable variation in the application of rotationplasty by surgeons as well as acceptance of the procedure by patients who may be candidates for this procedure. We qualitatively studied the decision-making process of families of patients who had undergone rotationplasty by interviewing 4 patients and their families using semi-structured interviews. Thematic analysis identified the following themes that were important in the decision-making process: (1) the desire for good information sources, (2) finding value in meeting with other patients who had been faced with a similar decision, (3) prioritizing function over cosmesis, (4) a desire to limit the need for revision surgeries, and (5) accepting that a return to normalcy is not an option with a surgery. Physicians and patients faced with a similar decision can benefit from a better understanding of the process, and by the normalization of anxieties and concerns that they may experience.

Effect of Resident and Fellow Involvement on Outcomes of Sarcoma Surgery: A NSQIP Database Cross-Sectional Study.

BACKGROUND: The complexity of sarcoma surgery often justifies surgical assistants of higher levels of academic training: senior residents, fellows, or co-surgeons. The association between the level of training of assistants and outcomes of these procedures has yet to be studied. METHODS: The Current Procedural Terminology (CPT) codes comprising the "core" procedures for musculoskeletal oncology fellowships were gathered. After CPTs primarily capturing nononcologic procedures were excluded, the National Surgical Quality Improvement Program (NSQIP) database was used to find procedures with these CPTs. The severity of complications was assessed using the Severity Weighting of Postoperative Adverse Events in Orthopedic Surgery (SWORD) score. Resident/fellow presence was analyzed both as a binary variable and stratified by level of training. RESULTS: In 159 cases meeting inclusion criteria, higher-level assistants were associated with increased rate of any complication (p=0.006) and greater need for transfusion (p=0.001) but also tended to be used in cases of longer duration (p=0.001) and with higher total work relative value units (wRVUs) (p=0.001). Multivariate analysis showed that while higher-wRVU procedures persisted as an independent predictor of increased complications (OR 1.028 per RVU unit, p=0.002), neither the presence nor level of training of assistants had an independent effect on complication rates. Other independent predictors of 30-day complications were treatment comorbidity (OR 3.433, p=0.010) and lower extremity location of the tumor (OR 4.393, p=0.006). Severity of complications did not differ between any of the groups on either univariate or multivariate analysis. CONCLUSIONS: Trainees of higher levels of academic training tend to be present for longer, higher-complexity musculoskeletal oncology cases, but the overall severity of complications from these do not significantly differ from lower-risk cases without trainees. Orthopedic oncologists may reassure patients that the presence of trainees and co-surgeons is not only safe but it may also help reduce the severity of complications in more complex procedures.

Reirradiation in Conservative Salvage of Recurrent Soft-tissue Sarcoma: An Analysis of Treatment Efficacy and Toxicities.

OBJECTIVE: Compared with radical resection alone, perioperative radiation therapy (RT) combined with neurovascular preserving surgery is the standard for the management of virgin soft-tissue sarcomas. Yet, the optimal management of a local recurrence remains unclear. We report outcomes of patients with locally recurrent soft-tissue sarcoma treated with resection and reirradiation at the University of Florida. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed the records of patients treated with primary conservative surgery and radiation for soft-tissue sarcoma followed by salvage resection and reirradiation for a local recurrence at our institution. RESULTS: We analyzed 23 patients treated between 1976 and 2014 (median follow-up, 46 mo). Tumor sites included: proximal extremity, 11 patients; trunk, 6; distal extremity, 5; and head and neck, 1. All patients had conservative gross total resection of their recurrent tumor, without amputation. For reirradiation, 16 patients received external-beam RT alone, 6 received external-beam RT and brachytherapy, and 1 received brachytherapy alone. Two patients received chemotherapy. After retreatment, the 5-year overall survival, cause-specific survival, local control, and distant control rates were 39%, 42%, 46%, and 60%, respectively. Ten patients experienced local recurrences, 1 experienced regional recurrence, and 9 developed distant metastases. Retreatment-related complications ranged from delayed wound healing to limb amputation; 8 patients required amputation. Only 3 patients remained disease-free at last follow-up. No statistically significant associations were found between treatment factors (eg, RT dose) and local control. CONCLUSIONS: Achieving local control of recurrent soft-tissue sarcoma is challenging. Treatment with reoperation and reirradiation can lead to debilitating complications affecting function and quality of life.

Brain metastases from Truncal and extremity bone and soft tissue sarcoma: Single institution study of oncologic outcomes.

Brain metastases are a rare occurrence in patients with sarcoma. The prognosis for patients is poor, and treatment can contribute to considerable morbidity. We sought to examine the experience of our institution in managing these patients over a period of 17 years. We performed a retrospective cohort study of patients managed for sarcoma of the extremity or trunk who developed brain metastases from 2000 to 2017. Clinical data were analyzed and we assessed survival outcomes. 14 patients presenting at a mean age of 46.7 years were included. All patients were treated with radiotherapy for their brain metastases. 3 patients underwent surgical excision of their intracranial metastases. Two patients were treated with radium-223 dichloride. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the log rank test were used to calculate the survival probability, and to compare patient subgroups. All patients in this study developed lung or bone metastases at a mean interval of 13.3 months prior to the development of brain metastasis. The median interval from diagnosis of a brain metastasis to death was 3.6 months. The Kaplan-Meier survival probability at 6 months was 28.6%, and 14.3% at 1 year. Surgery was not found to be associated with increased survival. Patients with cerebellar metastasis had increased survival probability as compared to those with cerebral metastasis. Patients with extremity or trunk sarcoma who develop brain metastases frequently develop lung or bone metastases in the year preceding their diagnosis of brain metastasis. Patients with cerebellar metastasis may have better survival than those with cerebral metastasis, and an aggressive treatment approach should be considered. Despite aggressive treatment, the prognosis is grim.

Pediatric Sarcoma Patients with Worse Physical Function but Better Peer Relationships and Depressive Symptoms than U.S. Pediatric Population as Measured by PROMIS®.

Background Pediatric patients with sarcomas are at risk of poor quality of life outcomes. The National Institutes of Health (NIH)-funded Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS®) improves our ability to capture patient-reported outcomes. Do physical function, social, and mental health PROMIS outcomes for pediatric patients with non-metastatic malignant sarcomas differ from the U.S. pediatric population? Methods Six pediatric PROMIS short forms were collected for patient visits to orthopedic oncology at a tertiary referral center from September 1, 2016, to March 31, 2017. Mean T-scores differed from the reference population by a one-sample t-test. Results Of the 30 eligible patients, five had soft-tissue sarcomas and 25 (83%) had bone sarcomas. The mean age of the cohort was 13 years (5-17). The study cohort had a mean physical function T-score of 39.8 (SD 9.8), which was worse than the reference population. In contrast, the mean peer relationship T-score of 54.3 (SD 8.8) and mean depression T-score of 42.0 (SD 9.1) were better than the reference population. Conclusions Pediatric patients with non-metastatic sarcomas had a worse physical function but a better peer relationship and depression scores than the U.S. PROMIS reference population. Ceiling and flooring effects were reported. The level of evidence was III.

A retrospective review of revision proximal humeral allograft-prosthetic composite procedures: an analysis of proximal humeral bone stock restoration.

BACKGROUND: Allograft-prosthetic composite (APC) reconstruction of the proximal humerus is a technique for reconstruction of large bone deficits, provides improvement in pain and function, and is thought to restore bone if revision surgery is needed. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the ability of proximal humeral APCs to restore usable bone at the time of revision surgery. METHODS: Two institutional electronic medical records were reviewed to evaluate proximal humeral APC procedures performed between 1970 and 2018. We identified 115 cases, of which 14 underwent revision for aseptic causes. The indications for revision included nonunion (n = 7), glenohumeral instability (n = 5), and allograft fracture (n = 2). Three categories were used to classify the amount of usable allograft retained at revision surgery: type A, complete allograft retention; type B, partial retention; and type C, no retention. RESULTS: A total of 14 patients (6 male and 8 female patients) underwent revision of the APC reconstruction at a mean of 22.8 months. At revision, allograft retention was classified as type A in 6 shoulders, type B in 3, and type C in 5. Type A cases were associated with nonunion with a well-fixed stem, type B cases were associated with instability and were converted from a hemiarthroplasty to a reverse total shoulder arthroplasty, and type C cases were associated with an allograft fracture or nonunion with a loose humeral component. CONCLUSION: A substantial number of revisions of proximal humeral APC reconstructions maintain a portion of the allograft bone (64.3%). This study supports the ongoing use of the APC reconstruction technique for large bone deficits.

Evaluation of Planned versus Unplanned Soft-Tissue Sarcoma Resection Using PROMIS Measures.

BACKGROUND: The Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) is a tool developed by the National Institutes of Health that allows comparisons across conditions or even the United States (U.S.) general population. OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to compare PROMIS outcomes between patients who underwent a planned resection to those who underwent an initial unplanned excision of their sarcoma followed by a definitive oncologic resection. We then compared these groups to the U.S. general population. METHODS: Eighty-five patients were included and were divided into those who underwent an initial planned resection (67) and unplanned excision (18). These patients were then further categorized based on the length of follow-up since their last surgery, either early (<12 months) or late (>12 months). RESULTS: We evaluated seven PROMIS domains and found no differences between patients who underwent planned resection versus those who underwent an initial unplanned excision followed by a wide resection of the previous wound bed. When compared to the U.S. population, both cohorts demonstrated significantly improved scores in several emotional health domains. CONCLUSIONS: Patients who undergo an unplanned excision followed by a definitive oncologic procedure have similar PROMIS scores compared to patients who undergo an initial planned resection.

A Comparison of Limb Salvage Versus Amputation for Nonmetastatic Sarcomas Using Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System Outcomes.

INTRODUCTION: The Patient-reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) is a scoring tool that allows comparisons between patients with rare conditions and more common ailments, or the general US population. PROMIS outcomes were compared between the limb salvage and amputee patients for nonmetastatic sarcomas to the US population. METHODS: One hundred thirty-eight patients were included in the analysis. Patients were divided into the limb salvage and amputee cohorts, as well as based on the follow-up (1 to 11 or 12+ months). RESULTS: Seven PROMIS domains were evaluated, and higher scores were found in both the limb salvage group and patients >12 months from surgery. The limb salvage group also had improved emotional health compared with the US population. DISCUSSION: Improvements in PROMIS values are observed in limb salvage patients and in patients >12 months from surgery. Limb salvage patients demonstrate improved emotional health compared with the US population.

Radiation Treatment for Ewing Sarcoma Family of Tumors in Adult Patients: A Single Institution's Experience Over 40 Years.

PURPOSE/OBJECTIVES: To report prognostic factors and long-term outcomes in adults with Ewing sarcoma treated with definitive radiotherapy. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We reviewed patients 18 years old and above with nonmetastatic Ewing sarcoma treated with radiotherapy +/- chemotherapy or surgery. Outcomes were stratified by age (30 and above vs. younger than 30 y), soft tissue extension, tumor size (≥8.5 vs. <8.5 cm), tumor location, resection (yes vs. no), and treatment era (1970-1992 vs. 1993-2012). Toxicities were scored using the RTOG criteria. RESULTS: Fifty-five patients (21 women) were treated with radiotherapy. Average age at diagnosis: 26.7 years (38 patients below 30 vs. 17 patients 30 y and above). A total of 43 had soft tissue extension (78%). Median tumor size: 8.5 cm. Most tumors were in the pelvis (40%), followed by the lower (27%) and upper (24%) extremities. All but 1 patient received chemotherapy; 13 underwent resection. Median dose: 55 Gy. Median follow-up: 3.6 years; 17.5 years for living patients. The 5-year overall (OS) and cause-specific survival (CSS) rates were both 46%. OS and CSS rates were unaffected by age (P=0.97), tumor size (P=0.12), or tumor location (P=0.99). Soft tissue extension portended a significantly poorer prognosis for 5-year OS and CSS: 37% vs. 82% (with and without, respectively; P=0.04). Patients who underwent resection had improved 5-year OS and CSS: 77% vs. 37%, respectively (P=0.01). Patients treated after 1993 had improved 5-year OS: 58% vs. 37% (P=0.0264). CONCLUSIONS: Adult patients with Ewing sarcoma experience similar treatment outcomes regardless of age at diagnosis. Soft tissue extension represents a poor prognostic factor. Aggressive trimodality therapy achieved the highest OS and CSS.

An Evaluation of PROMIS Health Domains in Sarcoma Patients Compared to the United States Population.

BACKGROUND: The Patient Reported Outcomes Measurement Information System (PROMIS) is a patient-directed system that allows comparisons across medical conditions. With this tool, comparisons can now be made between rare conditions, such as sarcomas, and more common ailments, of the United States general population. This allows comparisons between rare conditions, such as sarcomas, to more common ailments, or even the United States (US) general population. OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to use PROMIS to compare outcomes in patients that had undergone resection of a nonmetastatic sarcoma to the US population. METHODS: One hundred thirty-eight patients were included in the analysis. These patients were divided into early (<2 years) and late follow-up (>2 years). RESULTS: We evaluated results from seven health domains and found significantly lower scores in the physical function and depression domains. These differences were present in both the early and late cohorts when compared to the US population. CONCLUSION: While physical function was found to be worse in the sarcoma cohorts, we observed significantly improved levels of depression in these patients when compared to the US population. This finding was maintained over time and is an important reminder that a patient's goals and desires change following a cancer diagnosis and must be taken into consideration when planning treatment and determining a successful outcome.

Periosteal Osteosarcoma: A Single-Institutional Study of Factors Related to Oncologic Outcomes.

BACKGROUND: Periosteal osteosarcoma is a rare surface-based variant with a lower propensity to metastasis and better prognosis than conventional osteosarcoma. The literature supporting survival benefit with adjuvant chemotherapy is lacking. Our institutional practice is for chemotherapy to be offered to patients with high-grade disease. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective cohort study of patients managed for periosteal osteosarcoma from 1970 to 2015 analyzing the survival outcomes and assessing for any relationship of survival to patient- or treatment-related factors. 18 patients were included. The study population presented at a mean of 20.8 years and was followed for a mean of 10.7 years. Factors assessed for an association with survival included age, size of tumor, use of chemotherapy, presence of medullary involvement, presence of high-grade disease, local recurrence, and site of disease. Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and Cox proportional hazard regression were performed to calculate the survival rates and to assess for the effect of any factor on survival. RESULTS: 10-year overall survival rate was 77.1%, and 10-year event-free survival rate was 66.4%. No factor was found to have an association with overall or event-free survival. CONCLUSION: These findings add to the available evidence which has failed to find any survival benefit from chemotherapy; patients with this rare disease and their families should be counselled regarding the unclear role of chemotherapy in this rare subtype of osteosarcoma.

Long-Term Functional Outcomes of Distal Femoral Replacements Compared to Geographic Resections for Parosteal Osteosarcomas of the Distal Femur.

Background: Parosteal osteosarcoma is a rare tumor with increased survival compared to conventional high-grade osteosarcoma. Due to this increased survival comes the need for reconstructive options that provide good long-term functional results. Current treatment methods include geographic resection with allograft reconstruction versus resection and reconstruction with a distal femoral replacement. Purpose: Our purpose was to compare the long-term functional outcomes of distal femoral replacements to allograft reconstructions, using the musculoskeletal tumor society (MSTS) scoring system. Methods: After querying our database, 12 patients were identified and completed a MSTS questionnaire. Results: There was no difference in functional outcomes between the cohorts at an average of 14 years follow up for the endoprosthetic group and 25 years of follow up for the geographic resection group. Conclusion: At long-term follow-up, patients who undergo a distal femoral replacement for a parosteal osteosarcoma have no difference in functional outcomes compared to those who undergo an allograft reconstruction.Level of Evidence: IV.

Reverse-reamed Intercalary Allograft: A Surgical Technique.

Allograft reconstruction of large segmental intercalary bone defects after tumor resection is a well-accepted surgical technique. Although results generally have been satisfactory, nonunion at the allograft-host bone junction site remains a notable concern. Various reports have described attempts to enhance junctional healing with a variety of complex osteotomies, often complicating an already complex procedure. The use of an innovative reverse reaming technique can decrease the level of intraoperative difficulty mating the allograft-host junction and theoretically may improve junctional healing by enhancing stability and increasing the contact surface area.

Treatment of Sarcoma Lung Metastases with Stereotactic Body Radiotherapy.

BACKGROUND: The most common site of sarcoma metastasis is the lung. Surgical resection of pulmonary metastases and chemotherapy are treatment options that have been employed, but many patients are poor candidates for these treatments for multiple host or tumor-related reasons. In this group of patients, radiation might provide a less morbid treatment alternative. We sought to evaluate the efficacy of radiotherapy in the treatment of metastatic sarcoma to the lung. METHODS: Stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT) was used to treat 117 pulmonary metastases in 44 patients. Patients were followed with serial computed tomography imaging of the chest. The primary endpoint was failure of control of a pulmonary lesion as measured by continued growth. Radiation-associated complications were recorded. RESULTS: The majority of patients (84%) received a total dose of 50 Gy per metastatic nodule utilizing an image-guided SBRT technique. The median interval follow-up was 14.2 months (range 1.6-98.6 months). Overall survival was 82% at two years and 50% at five years. Of 117 metastatic nodules treated, six nodules showed failure of treatment (95% control rate). Twenty patients (27%) developed new metastatic lesions and underwent further SBRT. The side effects of SBRT included transient radiation pneumonitis (n=6), cough (n=2), rib fracture (n=1), chronic pain (n=1), dermatitis (n=1), and dyspnea (n=1). CONCLUSION: Stereotactic body radiotherapy is an effective and safe treatment for the ablation of pulmonary metastasis from sarcoma. Further work is needed to evaluate the optimal role of SBRT relative to surgery or chemotherapy for treatment of metastatic sarcoma.

Soft tissue sarcomas.

Sarcoma is a cancer that arises from cells of mesenchymal origin, such as bone, cartilage, muscle, fat, vascular, or hematopoietic tissue. It is a very rare form of cancer with over 50 histologic subtypes. This chapter discusses selected individual subtypes of sarcomas and characteristics specific to each one. It will broadly go over molecular biology, etiology, risk factors, and the clinical features of this disease. It discusses diagnostic evaluation and the principles of management including imaging, biopsy, staging, treatment, follow-up, and the importance of a multidisciplinary approach.