Clinical course and features of soft tissue sarcomas in geriatric patients: a single-center experience.

ABSTRACT

OBJECTIVE: This study was performed to examine the disease course in geriatric patients with soft tissue sarcoma and determine the risk factors for mortality. METHODS: We retrospectively analyzed patients who were treated at Istanbul University Oncology Institute from January 2000 to August 2021. RESULTS: Eighty patients were included in the study. The patients' median age was 69 years (range, 65-88 years). The median overall survival of patients diagnosed between the ages of 65 and 74 years was 70 months, and that of patients diagnosed at the age of ≤75 years was significantly lower at 46 months. The median survival of patients who did and did not undergo surgical resection was 66 and 11 months, respectively, with a significant difference. The median overall survival of patients with positive and negative surgical margins was 58 and 96 months, respectively, also with a significant difference. Age at diagnosis and recurrence/metastasis significantly affected mortality. A 1-year increase in the age at diagnosis increased mortality by 1.147 times. CONCLUSION: Age of >75 years, inability to undergo surgery, positive surgical margins, and head and neck location may be associated with a poor prognosis in geriatric patients with soft tissue sarcoma.