Multicenter Adoption and Outcomes of Nodal Observation for Patients with Melanoma and Sentinel Lymph Node Metastases.

BACKGROUND: Following publication of the MSLT-II trial showing no survival benefit of completion lymphadenectomy (CLND) in patients with melanoma sentinel lymph node (SLN) metastases, it is expected that practice patterns have changed. The purpose of this study is to understand real-world practices and outcomes after publication of this landmark trial. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with truncal/extremity melanoma SLN metastases diagnosed between 2013 and 2019 at four academic cancer centers were included in this retrospective cohort study. Descriptive statistics, Cox proportional hazards model, and multivariable regression were used to characterize the cohort and identify predictors of CLND, harboring non-SLN (NSLN) metastases, and survival. RESULTS: Results of 1176 patients undergoing SLN biopsy, 183 had SLN metastases. The number of patients who underwent CLND before versus after trial publication was 75.7.% versus 20.5% (HR 0.16, 95% CI 0.09-0.28). Of those undergoing nodal observation (NO), 92% had a first nodal-basin ultrasound, while 63% of patients had a fourth. In exploratory multivariable analyses, age ≥ 50 years was associated with lower rate of CLND (HR 0.58, 95% CI 0.36-0.92) and larger SLN deposit (> 1.0 mm) with increased rate of CLND (HR 1.87, 95% CI 1.17-3.00) in the complete cohort. Extracapsular extension was associated with increased risk of NSLN metastases (HR 12.43, 95% CI 2.48-62.31). Adjusted survival analysis demonstrated no difference in recurrence or mortality between patients treated with CLND versus NO at median 2.2-year follow-up. CONCLUSION: Nodal observation was rapidly adopted into practice in patients with melanoma SLN metastases at four centers in Canada. Younger age and higher nodal burden were associated with increased use of CLND after trial publication. Ultrasound (US) surveillance decreased with time from SLNB. In our study, CLND was not associated with a decreased risk of recurrence or mortality.

Oncologic Safety of Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy Alone After Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy for Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The oncologic safety of sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) alone for clinically node-positive (cN1-2) patients who convert to pathologic node-negativity (ypN0) after neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is not well established. METHODS: This study retrospectively identified 244 consecutive patients with a diagnosis of cT1-3cN0-2 breast cancer who underwent NAC followed by SLNB at the authors' institution between 2013 and 2018. The patients were categorized as clinically node-negative (cN0) or cN1-2 before the onset of NAC, and the Kaplan-Meier method was used to compare locoregional and distant recurrence rates after SLNB alone for ypN0 patients. RESULTS: Among 244 patients who underwent NAC followed by surgery with SLNB for axillary staging, 112 (45.9%) were cN0 at presentation, whereas 132 (54.5%) had biopsy-proven cN1-2 disease and converted to cN0 after treatment. Of the patients presenting with cN0 disease, 102 (91.1%) were ypN0 on SLNB pathology compared with 60 cN1/2 patients (45.5%; p < 0.001). Regional nodal irradiation was administered to 5% of the cN0/ypN0 patients compared with 70.7% of the cN1-2/ypN0 patients (p < 0.001). Overall, 211 patients were treated with SLNB alone and had a median follow-up period of 36 months (interquartile range [IQR], 24-53 months). For 101 cN0/ypN0 patients who underwent SLNB alone, the 5-year local and regional recurrence rates were respectively 5.7% (95% confidence interval [CI], 2.4-13.8) and 1% (95% CI 0.1-7.0). For 58 cN1-2/ypN0 patients who underwent SLNB alone, the 5-year local and regional recurrence rates were respectively 4.1% (95% CI 1.0-15.5) and 0%, with no axillary recurrences noted. CONCLUSION: For ypN0 patients, SLNB alone after NAC is associated with low and acceptable short-term axillary recurrence rates. Additional follow-up data from prospective clinical trials are needed to confirm long-term oncologic safety and define optimal local therapy recommendations.

Time to Adjuvant Radiotherapy in Breast Cancer Affects Survival: Implications for the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer Quality Metrics.

BACKGROUND: To optimize breast cancer care, the American College of Surgeons Commission on Cancer developed quality measures regarding receipt and timing of adjuvant radiotherapy (RT). Nationwide compliance with these measures and its impact on overall survival (OS) are evaluated herein. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients (n = 285,291) diagnosed with invasive breast cancer from 2004 to 2012 were identified from the National Cancer Database. Compliance with RT administration within 365 days from diagnosis was determined for patients with stage III disease with ≥ 4 positive lymph nodes post mastectomy and stage I-III disease post breast-conserving surgery (BCS). Univariate and multivariate logistic regression and Cox proportional hazard models were used to assess factors associated with compliance and OS, respectively. RESULTS: In the mastectomy cohort, 66.9% received timely RT, showing improved OS versus no RT patients (HR 0.70, 95% CI 0.67-0.73). Delayed RT patients (≥ 365 days) achieved equivalent OS to those receiving timely RT (HR 1.07, 95% CI 0.93-1.23) and superior OS to no RT patients (HR 0.74, 95% CI 0.65-0.85). In the BCS cohort, 89.4% received timely RT, showing improved OS versus no RT patients (HR 0.47, 95% CI 0.45-0.49). Delayed RT was associated with improved OS versus no RT (HR 0.64, 95% CI 0.56-0.74) and decreased OS versus timely RT (HR 1.37, 95% CI 1.19-1.58). Factors associated with noncompliance included insurance type and distance to hospital. CONCLUSIONS: Quality measure compliance with adjuvant RT improves OS, regardless of timing after mastectomy. However, timeliness does impact OS after BCS. Focus on modifiable factors to improve compliance such as access to care may lead to improved compliance and OS.

Dynamic Neutrophil-to-Lymphocyte Ratio: A Novel Prognosis Measure for Triple-Negative Breast Cancer.

BACKGROUND: The neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) is a measure of systemic inflammation and a prognostic factor for multiple malignancies. This study assesses the value of the NLR as an independent prognostic marker in triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) and explores the association between dynamic NLR changes and patient outcomes. METHODS: The study retrospectively analyzed a prospectively maintained database including patients 18 to 80 years old with TNBC treated at the authors' institution between 2006 to 2016. Clinical and demographic data were collected, including blood test results and treatments received. Age at diagnosis, stage of disease, and NLR scores were tested for association with overall and disease-free survival in uni- and multivariate Cox models. RESULTS: The inclusion criteria were met by 329 women with a median age of 58. Most of the patients had early-stage disease (30.1% with stage 1 and 47% with stage 2 malignancy). An NLR higher than 2.84 at diagnosis was associated with decreased overall survival (hazard ratio [HR], 1.8; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.023-3.176), whereas an NLR higher than 7.82 at any time during the follow-up period was a strong predictor of 5-year mortality (HR, 10.76; 95% CI, 4.193-26.58), independent of age or stage of disease. Patients who experienced recurrence had a higher NLR than their counterparts during the 6 months before recurrence. The NLR also significantly rose during the final 18 months of life (p < 0.01). CONCLUSION: The NLR is an important prognostic marker in TNBC, both at diagnosis and during the course of the disease. Moreover, dynamic changes in NLR strongly correlate with disease recurrence and the time of death.

Axillary Lymph Node Ultrasound Following Neoadjuvant Chemotherapy in Biopsy-Proven Node-Positive Breast Cancer: Results from the SN FNAC Study.

BACKGROUND: The sentinel node biopsy following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (SN FNAC) study has shown that in node-positive (N+) breast cancer, sentinel node biopsy (SNB) can be performed following neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC), with a low false negative rate (FNR = 8.4%). A secondary endpoint of the SN FNAC study was to determine whether axillary ultrasound (AxUS) could predict axillary pathological complete response (ypN0) and increase the accuracy of SNB. METHODS: The SN FNAC trial is a study of patients with biopsy-proven N+ breast cancer who underwent SNB followed by completion node dissection. All patients had AxUS following NAC and the axillary nodes were classified as either positive (AxUS+) or negative (AxUS-). AxUS was compared with the final axillary pathology results. RESULTS: There was no statistical difference in the baseline characteristics of patients with AxUS+ versus those with AxUS-. Overall, 82.5% (47/57) of AxUS+ patients had residual positive lymph nodes (ypN+) at surgery and 53.8% (42/78) of AxUS- patients had ypN+. Post NAC AxUS sensitivity was 52.8%, specificity 78.3%, and negative predictive value 46.2%. AxUS FNR was 47.2%, versus 8.4% for SNB. If post-NAC AxUS- was used to select patients for SNB, FNR would decrease from 8.4 to 2.7%. However, using post-NAC AxUS in addition to SNB as an indication for ALND would have led to unnecessary ALND in 7.8% of all patients. CONCLUSION: AxUS is not appropriate as a standalone staging procedure, and SNB itself is sufficient to assess the axilla post NAC in patients who present with N+ breast cancer.

The Comprehensive Complication Index: a New Measure of the Burden of Complications After Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Cytoreduction and hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) are complex surgeries with multiple comorbidities. The Clavien-Dindo classification (CDC) is the most commonly used method to report surgical morbidity, but limits it to the highest-grade complication. The Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI) is a score ranging from 0 to 100, calculated using all 30-day complications and their treatment after abdominal surgery. The aim of this study is to assess the CCI's validity in the HIPEC patient population. METHODS: A review of our institutional cytoreduction database from 2009 to 2015 was undertaken. Patient demographics, pathology, Peritoneal Carcinomatosis Index (PCI), complications and their treatments, and length of stay (LOS) were reviewed. The CCI was calculated for each patient. Linear regression was used to assess whether the CCI and CDC were predictors of LOS. RESULTS: Of 157 patients reviewed, 110 (70.1%) underwent HIPEC. The majority were female (77, 66.9%), and the mean age was 53.7 years. Mean PCI was 13.2 [interquartile range (IQR) 7-18]. Median CDC was grade 2 (IQR 0-2), and only 9.8% had CDC of grade 4 or higher. Mean CCI was 21.4, while the median was 20.9 (IQR 0-30.8). Mean LOS was 16.2 days, while the median was 11 days (IQR 8-15 days). The CCI strongly correlated with LOS with coefficient of 0.46 [95% confidence interval (CI) 0.38-0.54, p = 0.000]. CONCLUSIONS: The CCI is an adequate tool to capture all complications and their overall burden in patients having undergone HIPEC. This study shows that the CCI can predict LOS and could be used to quantify and compare the burden of multiple complications.

The Diagnosis and Management of Retroperitoneal Sarcoma.

Retroperitoneal sarcoma (RPS) is a rare tumor whose diagnosis and management can be challenging and for which management requires a multidisciplinary team in a specialized center. An important part of the diagnosis-identification of the histologic subtype-depends on pathology; identifying the histologic subtype is important because this can affect prognosis and treatment options. Complete surgical resection with negative margins remains the cornerstone of treatment of nonmetastatic RPS and is the only chance for cure. In order to achieve negative margins, multivisceral en bloc resection is often necessary. Neoadjuvant therapies (chemotherapy, external beam radiation, or combination radiation and chemotherapy) are safe in well-selected patients and may be considered after careful review by a multidisciplinary sarcoma tumor board when the recurrence risk is high.

Base Excess as a Predictor of Complications in Cytoreductive Surgery with Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy.

BACKGROUND: Base excess is important in assessing metabolic status. Postoperative management in patients undergoing cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) for peritoneal malignancies can be a challenge, and we therefore sought to investigate perioperative predictors of overall morbidity in CRS/HIPEC patients at our institution. METHODS: Patients who underwent CRS/HIPEC from 2012 to 2016 were identified retrospectively from a prospectively collected institutional database. Patient demographics and perioperative variables were obtained and the comprehensive complication index (CCI) was calculated for each patient in order to assess perioperative morbidity. Stepwise linear regression analyses were performed, with CCI as the outcome variable. RESULTS: A total of 72 CRS/HIPEC patients had recorded base excesses in the first 48 h postoperatively. Mean immediate postoperative base excess was -6.0 mmol/L (interquartile range [IQR] -8 to -4.1), mean delta base excess at 48 h was +4.3 mmol/L (IQR +2.1 to +6.2), and mean CCI was 25.2 (IQR 8.7-36.7). On multivariate analysis, delta base excess was the only significant predictor of CCI, demonstrating a protective effect (p = 0.001). In patients who experienced less than the mean delta base excess of +4.3 mmol/L, lower delta base excess was an independent predictor of complications (p < 0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Delta base excess is an independent predictor of morbidity in patients undergoing CRS/HIPEC. A delta base excess of greater than +4.3 mmol/L at 48 h may be an appropriate goal for resuscitation of CRS/HIPEC patients in the immediate postoperative period. Standardized protocols to correct the base deficit in CRS/HIPEC patients during the early postoperative period can potentially help mitigate perioperative morbidity.

Is Fecal Diversion Needed in Pelvic Anastomoses During Hyperthermic Intraperitoneal Chemotherapy (HIPEC)?

BACKGROUND: The role of fecal diversion with pelvic anastomosis during cytoreductive surgery (CRS) with hyperthermic intraperitoneal chemotherapy (HIPEC) is not well defined. METHODS: A retrospective review of patients who underwent CRS and HIPEC between 2009 and 2016 was performed to identify those with a pelvic anastomosis (colorectal, ileorectal, or coloanal anastomosis). RESULTS: The study identified 73 patients who underwent CRS and HIPEC at three different institutions between July 2009 and June of 2016. Of these patients, 32 (44%) underwent a primary anastomosis with a diverting ileostomy, whereas 41 (56%) underwent a primary anastomosis without fecal diversion. The anastomotic leak rate for the no-diversion group was 22% compared with 0% for the group with a diverting ileostomy (p < 0.01). The 90-day mortality rate for the no-diversion group was 7.1%. The hospital stay was 14.1 ± 8.0 days in the diversion group compared with 17.9 ± 12.5 days in the no-diversion group (p = 0.12). Of those patients with a diverting ileostomy, 68% (n = 22) had their bowel continuity restored, 18% of which required a laparotomy for reversal. Postoperative complications occurred for 50% of those who required a laparotomy and for 44% of those who did not require a laparotomy (p = 0.84). CONCLUSION: Diverting ileostomies in patients with a pelvic anastomosis undergoing CRS and HIPEC are associated with a significantly reduced anastomotic leak rate. Reversal of the diverting ileostomy in this patient population required a laparotomy in 18% of the cases and had an associated morbidity rate of 50%.

Mesenteric Lymphadenectomy in Well-Differentiated Appendiceal Neuroendocrine Tumors.

BACKGROUND: Surgical resection is the primary therapy for local and locally advanced appendiceal neuroendocrine tumors. The role of mesenteric lymphadenectomy in these patients is undefined. OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to define the role and prognostic significance of mesenteric lymphadenectomy. DESIGN: This was a retrospective, observational study. SETTINGS: A population-based cohort from the National Cancer Institute Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results registry (January 1988 to November 2013) was used. PATIENTS: Patients with well-differentiated neuroendocrine tumors and nonmixed histologies undergoing surgical resection were included. MAIN OUTCOME MEASURES: The risk of lymph node metastases as a function of tumor size and overall survival with respect to lymph node count and tumor size was measured. Lymph node cut-point was determined using the Contal and O'Quigely method. RESULTS: Of the 573 patients who met the inclusion criteria, 64% were women, 79% were white, and 76% were <60 years of age. Seventy percent of the tumors were ≤2 cm, and 77% were lymph node negative. Median lymph nodes retrieved were 0 (interquartile range, 0-14). The probability of nodal metastases was 2.7% in tumors ≤1.0 cm, 31.0% in tumors 1.1 to 2.0 cm, and 64.0% in tumors >2.0 cm. The probability of a positive lymph node increased with increasing lymph node count up to 26 lymph nodes. An ideal cut-point of 12 lymph nodes was identified by statistical modeling. After adjustment in the multivariable model, the group with 12 or fewer lymph nodes examined had significantly worse overall survival (HR = 4.33 (95% CI, 1.54-12.15); p = 0.005; 5-year survival, 88% versus 96%) than the group with more than 12 lymph nodes examined. LIMITATIONS: Analysis was limited by the variables available in the database. CONCLUSIONS: This is the largest study to date that looks at prognostic significance of lymph node count for well-differentiated appendiceal neuroendocrine tumors. Overall survival was worse where 12 or fewer lymph nodes were identified for tumors >1 cm. See Video Abstract at http://links.lww.com/DCR/A352.

Timing and severity of post-discharge morbidity after hepatectomy.

BACKGROUND: In order to decrease cost and increase healthcare quality there is an ongoing effort to reduce readmissions after complex operations. The timing and severity of post-discharge complications after hepatectomy need to be better defined. METHODS: All patients undergoing liver resection at a single institution from Jan 2009-Jun 2015 were included. Complications were scored using the comprehensive complication index (CCI). Multivariate analysis is performed using logistic regression. Receiver operating characteristics (ROCs) were analyzed to optimize the Readmission Risk Index (RRI). RESULTS: Of the 258 patients that met the inclusion criteria, 26 (10%) were readmitted within 30 days of discharge after hepatectomy. On multivariate analysis age ≥68 years (OR 3.76; 95% CI 1.47-9.63, p = 0.006), CCI ≥ 15 (OR 3.65; 95% CI 1.39-9.56, p = 0.008), maximum temperature within 48 h of discharge (OR 3.02; 95% CI 1.17-7.75, p = 0.022) and white blood cell count ≥10.2 billion cells/L within 48 h of discharge (OR 2.88; 95% CI 1.04-8, p = 0.043) were independent predictors of 30-day readmission. These variables were used to develop the RRI (ROC area 0.80; 95% CI 0.70-0.9, p < 0.001). CONCLUSION: The CCI and pre-discharge variables can help identify individuals at risk of readmission. Readmission risk reduction efforts should focus on this subset of patients.

Elimination of 24-hour continuous medical resident duty in Quebec.

SUMMARY: In 2012 Quebec limited continuous in-hospital duty to 16 consecutive hours for all residents regardless of postgraduate (PGY) level. The new restrictions in Quebec appeared to have a profound, negative effect on the quality of life of surgical residents at McGill University and a perceived detrimental effect on the delivery of surgical education and patient care. Here we discuss the results of a nationwide survey that we created and distributed to general surgery residents across Canada to capture and compare their perceptions of the changes to duty hour restrictions.

Pancreatic fistulae after a pancreatico-duodenectomy: are pancreatico-gastrostomies safer than pancreatico-jejunostomies? An expertise-based trial and propensity-score adjusted analysis.

BACKGROUND: A pancreatic fistula (PF) is a major contributor to morbidity and mortality after a pancreaticoduodenectomy (PD). There remains debate as to whether re-establishing pancreaticoenteric continuity by a pancreatico-gastrostomy (PG) can decrease the risk of a PF and complications compared with a pancreatico-jejunostomy (PJ). The outcomes of patients undergoing these reconstructions after a PD were compared. METHOD: Patients undergoing a PD between 1999 and 2011 were selected from a prospective database and having undergone either a PG or PJ reconstruction. A propensity-score adjusted multivariate logistic regression was performed to identify the effect of surgical technique on outcomes of PF, delayed gastric emptying (DGE) and total complications. RESULTS: Twenty-three out of 103 and 20 out of 103 (P = 0.49) patients had PF and 74 out of 103 and 55 out of 103 patients had all-grades DGE in the PG and PJ groups, respectively (P = 0.02). The groups did not differ with regards to Clavien-Dindo grade of complications (P = 0.29) but did differ with regards to the Comprehensive Complication Index (CCI) (38.4 versus 31.4 for PG versus PG, respectively, P = 0.02.) Propensity-score adjusted multivariate analysis showed no effect of PG on PF (P = 0.89), DGE grades B/C (P = 0.9) or CCI (P = 0.41). There remained an effect on all-grades of DGE (P = 0.012.) DISCUSSION: Patients undergoing PG reconstruction had a similar rate of PF as those undergoing a PJ after a PD.

Pancreatic cancer and predictors of survival: comparing the CA 19-9/bilirubin ratio with the McGill Brisbane Symptom Score.

INTRODUCTION: Few tools predict survival from pancreatic cancer (PAC). The McGill Brisbane Symptom Score (MBSS) based on symptoms at presentation (weight loss, pain, jaundice and smoking) was recently validated. The present study compares the ability of four strategies to predict 9-month survival: MBSS, carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA 19-9) alone, CA19-9-to-bilirubin ratio and a combination of MBSS and the CA19-9-to-bilirubin ratio. METHODOLOGY: A retrospective review of 133 patients diagnosed with PAC between 2005 and 2011 was performed. Survival was determined from the Quebec civil registry. Blood CA 19-9 and bilirubin values were collected (n = 52) at the time of diagnosis. Receiver-operating characteristic (ROC) curves were used to determine a cutoff for optimal test characteristics of CA 19-9 and CA19-9-to-total bilirubin ratio in predicting survival at 9 months. Predictive characteristics were then calculated for the four strategies. RESULTS: Of the four strategies, the one with the greatest negative predictive value was the MBSS: negative predictive value (NPV) was 90.2% (76.9-97.3%) and the positive likelihood ratio (LR) was the greatest. The ability of CA 19-9 levels alone, at baseline, to predict survival was low. For the CA19-9-to-bilirubin ratio, the test characteristics improved but remained non-significant. The best performing strategy according to likelihood ratios was the combined MBSS and CA19-9 to the bilirubin ratio. CONCLUSION: CA19-9 levels and the CA19-9-to-bilirubin ratio are poor predictors of survival for PAC, whereas the MBSS is a far better predictor, confirming its clinical value. By adding the CA19-9-to-bilirubin ratio to the MBSS the predictive characteristics improved.

Hepatitis C infection and hepatocellular carcinoma in liver transplantation: a 20-year experience.

BACKGROUND: Hepatitis C infection (HCV) and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC), the two main causes of liver transplantation (LT), have reduced survival post-LT. The impact of HCV, HCC and their coexistence on post-LT survival were assessed. METHODOLOGY: All 601 LT patients from 1992 to 2011 were reviewed. Those deceased within 30 days (n = 69) and re-transplants (n = 49) were excluded. Recipients were divided into four groups: (a) HCC-/HCV-(n = 252) (b) HCC+/HCV- (n = 58), (c) HCC-/HCV+ (n = 106) and (d) HCC+/HCV+ (n = 67). Demographics, the donor risk index (DRI), Model for End-Stage Liver Disease (MELD) score, survival, complications and tumour characteristics were collected. Statistical analysis included anova, chi-square, Fisher's exact tests and Cox and Kaplan-Meier for overall survival. RESULTS: Groups were comparable with regards to baseline characteristics, but HCC patients were older. After adjusting for age, MELD, gender and the donor risk index (DRI), survival was lower in the HCC+/HCV+ group (59.5% at 5 yrs) and the hazard ratio (HR) was 1.90 [95% confidence interval (CI),1.24-2.95, P = 0.003] and 1.45 (95% CI, 0.99-2.12, P = 0.054) for HCC-/HCV+. HCC survival was similar to controls (HR 1.18, 95% CI, 0.71-1.93, P = 0.508). HCC+/HCV- patients exceeded the Milan criteria (50% versus 31%, P < 0.04) and had more micro-vascular invasion (37.5% versus 20.6%, P = 0.042). HCC+/HCV+ versus HCC+/HCV- survival remained lower (HR 1.94, 95% CI, 1.06-3.81, P = 0.041) after correcting for tumour characteristics and treatment. CONCLUSION: HCV patients had lower survival post-LT. HCC alone had no impact on survival. Patient survival decreased in the HCC+/HCV+ group and this appears to be as a consequence of HCV recurrence.

Pelvic soft tissue sarcomas.

Pelvic soft tissue sarcomas (PSTS) are a rare, heterogeneous group of tumors. They have been usually analyzed with retroperitoneal sarcomas (RPS), but actually have key differences. Due to their unique anatomic location, symptomatic presentation of PSTS may be more common than RPS. Adequate imaging approach is paramount for guiding differential diagnosis, while preoperative biopsy is mandatory, especially when preoperative treatment may be considered as initial approach. The most frequent histologic subtype is leiomyosarcoma, which is different as expected in the retroperitoneum where liposarcoma is the commonest histology. Also solitary fibrous tumor is commonly diagnosed in the pelvis. Surgical approach for PSTS differs from that for RPS mainly due to anatomic relations. Similarly, in the lack of definite evidence from specific trials about neoadjuvant and adjuvant treatments, the anatomic constraints to obtain wide margins in the pelvis as well as the expected functional outcome in case of organ resections should be factored into decision for individualized treatment offer. Vascular and genitourinary involvement are frequent, as well as herniation through pelvic foramina. For these reasons a multidisciplinary surgical team should always be considered. Early referral of these patients to high-volume centers is critical and may impact on survival, given that optimal initial resection is a major predictor of curative treatment. International consensus on PSTS treatment is advocated, similarly to the recent efforts realized for RPS.

Follow-up of patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma.

Retroperitoneal sarcomas (RPS) are rare malignancies that are potentially curable by complete surgical resection. A regular surveillance program is normally commenced following surgery due to the risk of local recurrence (LR), especially in low-intermediate grade disease, and distant metastases (DM), especially in high-grade RPS. Consensus guidelines usually advocate for more frequent imaging during the first 2-3 years and less intensive imaging over a prolonged period thereafter, reflecting the incidence pattern of LR and DM. Definitive evidence for the most effective imaging schedule has never been provided, and retrospective studies have not shown an association between follow-up intensity and survival. Improvement in the prediction of recurrence patterns has been sustained by prognostic dynamic nomograms, which are now capable of forecasting disease behaviour in each patient according to specific features. Incorporation of such tools in clinical practice may help to stratify patients and tailor ongoing surveillance to the risk of recurrence. This may help to relieve patients' anxiety while awaiting results of surveillance investigations, and also reduce the economic and environmental burden of repeated imaging. A randomized controlled study (SARveillance Trial) is proposed to shed light on this controversial topic, allowing clinicians to harmonize the follow-up protocol of patients undergoing surgery for RPS.

Data Dissemination of the Role of Neoadjuvant Radiation in Retroperitoneal Sarcoma: A CTOS and CSSO Survey.

Consensus guidelines call for complete resection of retroperitoneal sarcoma with consideration of neoadjuvant radiation for curative-intent treatment. The 15-month delay from the initial presentation of an abstract to the final publication of the STRASS trial results assessing the impact of neoadjuvant radiation led to a dilemma of how patients should be managed in the interim. This study aims to (1) understand perspectives regarding neoadjuvant radiation for RPS during this period; and (2) assess the process of integrating data into practice. A survey was distributed to international organizations including all specialties treating RPS. Eighty clinicians responded, including surgical (60.5%), radiation (21.0%) and medical oncologists (18.5%). Low kappa correlation coefficients on a series of clinical scenarios querying individual recommendations before and after initial presentation as an abstract indicate considerable change. Over 62% of respondents identified a practice change; however, most also noted discomfort in adopting changes without a manuscript available. Of the 45 respondents indicating discomfort with practice changes without a full manuscript, 28 (62%) indicated that their practice changed in response to the abstract. There was substantial variability in recommendations for neoadjuvant radiation between the presentation of the abstract and the publication of trial results. The difference in the proportion of clinicians describing comfort with changing practice based on the presentation of the abstract versus those that had done so shows that indications for proper integration of data into practice are not clear. Endeavors to resolve this ambiguity and expedite availability of practice-changing data are warranted.