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Radiation Therapy in Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Chapter

Radiation Therapy in Soft Tissue Sarcoma

Abstract

This chapter presents a case scenario of a 50‐year‐old woman who presents with a growing mass in the medial thigh. Magnetic resonance imaging confirms a tumor with heterogeneous signal characteristics. Radiation therapy (XRT) is used in the management of soft tissue sarcomas (STS), with the goal of extending the virtual margin to the surrounding tissues. Limb‐sparing surgery plus XRT is as effective as amputation for the local control of STS. XRT plus limb‐sparing surgery is superior to surgery alone for the local control of high‐grade extremity STS. Sarcomas are best treated by multidisciplinary teams and individualized treatment plans. There are potential advantages and disadvantages to both pre‐ and postoperative XRT. Multiple studies have demonstrated that preoperative XRT increases the probability of wound complications compared with postoperative XRT, which can cause adverse long‐term functional consequences. The chapter provides recommendations for implementing evidence‐based practice in the clinical setting.

Authors

Bozzo A; Gazendam A; Weiss KR

Book title

Evidence‐Based Orthopedics

Pagination

pp. 973-979

Publisher

Wiley

Publication Date

August 30, 2021

DOI

10.1002/9781119413936.ch167
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