Aim: To evaluate the results of treatment of retroperitoneal sarcomas.
Patients and Methods: We evaluated clinical, diagnostic, surgical and histological parameters as well as adjuvant therapy and evolution in 15 patients with retroperitoneal sarcoma.
Results: All patients presented abdominal tumors at diagnosis. Imaging revealed retroperitoneal origin. Complete surgical resection was carried out in seven patients (47%), reduction in size of tumor mass in five (33%) and exploratory laparotomy in three (20%). Histological analysis revealed 12 liposarcoma (80%), two leiomyosarcoma (13%) and one fibrosarcoma. Adjuvant therapy was given to two patients. Of the patients who underwent complete surgical resection, four survived without relapse (1, 2, 5 and 5 years respectively). With the other treatments, there were no survivals at 2 years. Adjuvant therapy did not influence survival.
Conclusions: Retroperitoneal sarcoma is diagnosed late. Prognosis is poor due to tumor relapse and only complete surgical removal produces a "cure".