Influence of surgical margins on outcome in patients with preoperatively irradiated extremity soft tissue sarcomas

Background. Limb‐sparing surgery for soft tissue sarcomas of the extremities may result in microscopically positive surgical margins. The consequences of these microscopically positive margins are unknown. We have analyzed the influence of surgical margins on local disease control and overall survival in patients with extremity soft tissue sarcomas who received preoperative radiation therapy followed by limb‐sparing surgery. Methods. Ninety‐five consecutive patients with intermediate and high grade extremity sarcomas who received preoperative radiation therapy and limb‐sparing surgery were identified from a soft tissue sarcoma database. The clinical outcome of 24 patients who had microscopically positive surgical margins was compared with that of 71 patients who had clear surgical margins. Results. Multivariate statistical analysis revealed that patients with microscopically positive surgical margins or intraoperative tumor violation had an increased risk for local failure. High grade, large size, and intraoperative violation of the tumors were associated with decreased overall survival. However, neither the presence of a positive surgical margin nor the occurrence of a local failure adversely affected overall survival. Conclusions. Achieving negative surgical margins in patients with intermediate and high grade extremity sarcomas enhances local disease control but does not measurably improve overall survival. These data should be factored into patient management decisions in cases where the goal of achieving clear surgical margins requires amputation or the significant functional compromise of the extremity.