Adult perineal sarcomas

Abstract

Background and objectives: Primary perineal sarcoma in adults is a rare disease that has only been documented to occur in isolated case reports.

Methods: To better characterize and define the natural history of perineal sarcoma in adults (> or = 18 years), we reviewed our experience with treatment of perineal sarcoma between 1982 and 1999 (nine cases).

Results: Epithelioid sarcoma (n = 4) was the most common histologic subtype. Seven cases (78%) were histologically high grade, and lesions were most commonly < 5 cm. All patients were treated with wide local excision. External beam radiation was the most commonly used form of adjuvant therapy (n = 6). Recurrences were noted in five patients, and the recurrences were most commonly local (60%). Median time to first recurrence was 21 months. Six of nine patients are alive with a median follow-up of 54 months. Three died of recurrent/metastatic disease at 16, 51, and 54 months after initial surgery.

Conclusions: Aggressive therapy and follow-up beginning with wide excision can be associated with long-term survival in adults with primary perineal sarcoma.