Skip to main page content
U.S. flag

An official website of the United States government

Dot gov

The .gov means it’s official.
Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information, make sure you’re on a federal government site.

Https

The site is secure.
The https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.

Access keys NCBI Homepage MyNCBI Homepage Main Content Main Navigation
Review
. 2021 Dec;31(8):1583-1596.
doi: 10.1007/s00590-021-02990-6. Epub 2021 May 6.

The role of radiotherapy in adult soft tissues sarcoma of the extremities

Affiliations
Review

The role of radiotherapy in adult soft tissues sarcoma of the extremities

Silvia Cammelli et al. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol. 2021 Dec.

Abstract

Local management of adult soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities has evolved over the past decades. Until the 1970s, radical surgery (amputations) was the standard therapeutic procedure resulting in significant physical and psychological morbidity for the patients. In the present era, limb sparing surgery combined with radiotherapy represents the current standard of care for high grade and > 5 cm STSs. This approach guarantees high local control rate and function preservation. The aim of this paper is to summarize the current evidence for RT in STSs of the extremities. Outcomes, technical details (techniques, timing, dose, volumes of treatment) and the emerging role of RT in the management of oligometastatic disease will be analysed. Finally, results of the recent clinical trials testing new scenarios in RT of STSs will be described.

Keywords: Extremities; Limbs; Radiotherapy; Review; Soft tissue sarcoma.

PubMed Disclaimer

Conflict of interest statement

The authors have no relevant financial or non-financial interests to disclose regarding this article.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
example of isodose distribution for a patient with soft tissue sarcoma of the thigh treated with volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT)
Fig. 2
Fig. 2
Example of target delineation for a patient with soft tissue sarcoma of the thigh. Yellow line represents gross tumour volume (GTV). Red line represents planning target volume (PTV)

References

    1. NCCN Guidelines Version 1.2021 Soft Tissue Sarcoma. www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls. Accessed 25 Jan 2021
    1. Casali PG, Abecassis N, Bauer S, Biagini R, Bielack S, Bonvalot S, Boukovinas I, Bovee JVMG, Brodowicz T, Broto JM, Buonadonna A, De Álava E, Dei Tos AP, Del Muro XG, Dileo P, Eriksson M, Fedenko A, Ferraresi V, Ferrari A, Ferrari S, Frezza AM, Gasperoni S, Gelderblom H, Gil T, Grignani G, Gronchi A, Haas RL, Hannu A, Hassan B, Hohenberger P, Issels R, Joensuu H, Jones RL, Judson I, Jutte P, Kaal S, Kasper B, Kopeckova K, Krákorová DA, Le Cesne A, Lugowska I, Merimsky O, Montemurro M, Pantaleo MA, Piana R, Picci P, Piperno-Neumann S, Pousa AL, Reichardt P, Robinson MH, Rutkowski P, Safwat AA, Schöffski P, Sleijfer S, Stacchiotti S, Sundby Hall K, Unk M, Van Coevorden F, Van Der Graaf W, Whelan J, Wardelmann E, Zaikova O, Blay JY. Soft tissue and visceral sarcomas: ESMO-EURACAN Clinical Practice Guidelines for diagnosis, treatment and follow-up. Ann Oncol. 2018 doi: 10.1093/annonc/mdy096. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Mavrogenis AF, Angelini A, Vottis C, Palmerini E, Rimondi E, Rossi G, Papagelopoulos PJ, Ruggieri P. State-of-the-art approach for bone sarcomas. Eur J Orthop Surg Traumatol. 2015;25:5–15. doi: 10.1007/s00590-014-1468-2. - DOI - PubMed
    1. Rosenberg SA, Tepper J, Glatstein E, Costa J, Baker A, Brennan M, DeMoss EV, Seipp C, Sindelar WF, Sugarbaker P, Wesley R. The treatment of soft-tissue sarcomas of the extremities. Prospective randomized evaluations of (1) limb-sparing surgery plus radiation therapy compared with amputation and (2) the role of adjuvant chemotherapy. Ann Surg. 1982;196:305–315. doi: 10.1097/00000658-198209000-00009. - DOI - PMC - PubMed
    1. Yang JC, Chang AE, Baker AR, Sindelar WF, Danforth DN, Topalian SL, DeLaney T, Glatstein E, Steinberg SM, Merino MJ, Rosenberg SA. Randomized prospective study of the benefit of adjuvant radiation therapy in the treatment of soft tissue sarcomas of the extremity. J Clin Oncol. 1998;16:197–203. doi: 10.1200/JCO.1998.16.1.197. - DOI - PubMed