A guide to oncological management of soft tissue tumours of the abdominal wall

Percutaneous Cryoablation of Recurrent or Oligometastatic Tumors in Thoracoabdominal Soft Tissues: Safety, Effectiveness, and Technical Aspects

PURPOSE

To assess the effectiveness and safety of cryoablation (CRA) for the treatment of recurrent or oligometastatic solid tumors located in the thoracoabdominal soft tissues.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-two percutaneous CRA procedures performed in 19 patients to treat recurrent or oligometastatic tumors in thoracoabdominal soft tissue were retrospectively examined. All procedures were performed between January 2015 and June 2021 under ultrasound and computed tomography (CT) guidance, and the most complex procedures were performed with CT-based navigation systems. The histology of the primary tumors included colorectal adenocarcinoma, squamous cell lung carcinoma, pancreatic adenocarcinoma, renal cell carcinoma, and hepatocellular carcinoma. Adverse events, technical success, and local tumor control were analyzed.

RESULTS

The mean age of the patients was 66.5 years, with a mean tumor size of 24.8 mm. The mean time of the procedures was 68 minutes, with a mean number of 2.5 cryoprobes used. Hydrodissection was performed in 63% of the procedures to protect the surrounding anatomical structures. The mean size of the ice ball, measured on axial CT scans at the end of the procedures, was 43.5 mm. No severe adverse events were observed. Technical success was achieved in all cases. Three patients experienced local tumor progression (2 residual disease and 1 recurrence), which were successfully treated with a second CRA procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

Percutaneous CRA is a safe and effective therapy in selected cases of recurrent or oligometastatic tumors in the thoracoabdominal soft tissues.

Myxofibrosarcoma of the abdominal wall : A case report and literature review

INTRODUCTION

Myxofibrosarcoma (MFS) is a subtype of soft tissue sarcoma characterized by diffuse infiltration patterns. Myxofibrosarcoma arises often in extremities. Its occurrence in the abdominal wall is extremely rare. Herein, we present here a case of high-grade MFS of the abdominal wall discovered in a 58-year-old woman complaining of an abdominal mass.

PRESENTATION OF CASE

This report illustrates the case of a female who presented a mass in the right lower quadrant of the abdomen. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan revealed a well-circumcised, heterogeneous soft tissue mass. We performed a wide margin excision of the mass. Histology concluded in myxofibrosarcoma of the abdominal wall. Adjuvant radiotherapy was performed.

CLINICAL DISCUSSION

We reported successful surgical treatment for myxofibrosarcoma of the abdominal wall. To our knowledge, this is the second report in English literature. MFS is a subtype of soft tissue sarcoma with a locally infiltrative behavior. To ensure the best curative treatment, It is important to excise the tumor with wide margins. Knowing that MFS has a propensity for local recurrence (16 to 57 %), adjuvant radiotherapy has emerged as an efficient treatment for improving local control. The role of chemotherapy is controversial and has not shown effects on survival.

CONCLUSION

Myxofibrosarcoma is a connective tissue neoplasm. Its occurrence in the abdominal wall is extremely rare. Surgical treatment with large negative margins is the cornerstone of the treatment. Adjuvant radiotherapy is essential in preventing local recurrences.

Overall survival in abdominal wall sarcoma treated with curative intent surgery: A retrospective study from two European referral centres

INTRODUCTION

Primary abdominal wall sarcomas are rare, heterogeneous tumours. The mainstay of management is surgery, although local recurrences (LR) and distant metastases (DM) are common.

OBJECTIVES

Overall survival (OS) and disease-free survival (DFS) were primary outcomes; factors associated with prognosis secondary outcomes.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients undergoing surgery of primary abdominal wall sarcomas between April 2008 and May 2018 were identified at two referrals centres for sarcoma surgery. Patient demographics, tumour and treatment-related characteristics were recorded and analysed.

RESULTS

A cohort of 65 patients underwent surgical resection with a median follow-up of 56 months, 5-year OS and DFS were 69% and 71%, respectively. Eleven patients (16.9%) experienced a recurrence event: 6 LR (9.2%), 10 DM (15.4%) and 5 both (7.7%). At univariate analysis, size (p = 0.03), grade (p = 0.001) and depth (p = 0.04) were associated with OS while size (p = 0.02) was associated with DFS. No significant relationship with tumour depth, type of surgery, surgical margin status or neo-/adjuvant treatment was demonstrated.

CONCLUSION

Recurrence events are less common following treatment of abdominal wall sarcomas if compared to extremities STSs, but size (≥5 cm), high malignancy grade (FNCLCC 3) and depth are associated with worse OS.

Clinical and Pathological Characteristics of Soft Tissue Sarcomas: A Retrospective Study From a Developing Country

Introduction Soft tissue sarcomas remain an exceedingly rare malignancy. While soft tissue sarcomas boast a high mortality rate, their characteristics and behavior patterns are poorly understood. This study aims to evaluate the various aspects that pertain to soft tissue sarcomas, including their histology, tumor characteristics, survival rates, and therapeutic modalities. Methods A retrospective study analyzing the data from 19 patients presenting over four years with a histologically confirmed diagnosis of soft tissue sarcomas was conducted. The patients were studied for various parameters, including tumor site and the particular pathological subtypes. The data obtained were analyzed using the SPSS 23.0 statistical software (IBM Corporation, Armonk, NY), and the results were then tabulated. Results A total of 19 patients with a confirmed diagnosis of a soft tissue sarcoma were included in the study. The mean age of the patients included was 45.32 ± 16.88 years. Wide local excision was the most common surgical procedure employed for the resection of these tumors. Within the cohort, the mortality rate was noted to hover at 10.52%. Gastrointestinal stromal tumors were observed in 21% of the patients and were therefore the most common histological subtype. Of the patients included, 42.10% required blood transfusion during the perioperative time. Most of the tumors were noted to be intermediate grade, with high-grade tumors observed in 26.3% of the cases. Conclusion Soft tissue sarcomas remain a rare but potent cause of death in developing countries. The diversity of the tissues that they afflict renders their prompt detection a diagnostic challenge. A meticulous exploration of the various characteristics honed by soft tissue sarcomas, such as the particular histological subtype and the associated mortality rates, can better elucidate the prognosis and the eventual disease outcomes.

Myxoid Liposarcoma: A Case Report of a Rare Location in the Abdominal Wall

Liposarcomas are considered to be the most common soft tissue sarcomas and have five histological subtypes. The myxoid subtype often occurs in the lower limbs and the retroperitoneum; however, the abdominal wall location is extremely rare. The clinical presentation and radiological findings are non-specific. Wide local excision with a minimum margin of 3 cm remains the mainstay of treatment to prevent local recurrences. We herein report a rare location of myxoid liposarcoma in the abdominal wall.

CT and MRI features of tumors and tumor-like lesions in the abdominal wall

Masses involving the abdominal wall are common in clinical practice and have many etiologies, including tumors and tumor-like lesions. Abdominal wall tumors include primary and secondary tumors, the former of which constitute a heterogeneous group of soft tissue tumors with their own unique spectrum. Tumor-like lesions, such as hernias, are more common and must be distinguished from true tumors. Medical imaging is valuable for discovering, diagnosing, and evaluating the extent of abdominal wall masses. With the increasing application of computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), determining a diagnosis or narrowing the differential diagnosis is often possible, thus facilitating effective management. In this article, we comprehensively review the spectrum of common abdominal wall masses and present the CT and MRI features of typical cases in our hospital. A systematic stepwise diagnostic approach is also proposed for clinical practice.

Utilization pattern and survival outcomes of adjuvant therapies in high-grade nonretroperitoneal abdominal soft tissue sarcoma: A population-based study

BACKGROUND

Nonretroperitoneal abdominal soft tissue sarcoma (NRA-STS) is a rare disease with limited data supporting its management. Our study aimed to reveal the utilization patterns of adjuvant therapy and its potential survival benefits using the National Cancer Data Base.

MATERIALS

The analysis included patients with resected high-grade NRA-STS. Chi-square analysis was used to evaluate distribution of patient and tumor-related factors within treatment groups. The Kaplan-Meier and Cox proportional hazards model were utilized to evaluate overall survival according to treatment approach. Multivariate analysis was used to determine the impact of these factors on patients' outcome. Matched propensity score analysis was implemented to control for imbalance of confounding variables.

RESULTS

At median follow-up of 49 months, 5-year overall survival improved from 46% without adjuvant radiation therapy to 52% (P = 0.009) with radiotherapy delivery with a 30% reduction in hazard of death (95% confidence interval = 0.58-0.84). On multivariate analysis, age <50, tumor <8 cm, negative margins and radiotherapy delivery were significant predictors of improved survival. Chemotherapy was not associated with significant survival improvement (Hazard Ratios [HR]: 0.89, P = 0.28).

CONCLUSION

Adjuvant radiotherapy was associated with improved survival in high-grade NRA-STS. Chemotherapy was not associated with a survival improvement; however, further studies are needed to refine treatment strategies.

High-grade myxofibrosarcoma of the abdominal wall

The authors present a case of a 57-year-old man, who presented to the surgical clinic with a mass in the suprapubic region. A CT scan revealed a well-circumscribed lobular, heterogeneous soft tissue mass measuring 12×8.6×7.8 cm. The final histopathological diagnosis from the resection of the lesion was a myxofibrosarcoma (MFS), grade 3. The management of MFS includes surgical and oncological options which are reviewed here. These are aimed at complete excision and reducing the risk of local occurrence.

The multidisciplinary management of bone and soft tissue sarcoma: an essential organizational framework

The rarity of bone and soft tissue sarcoma, the difficulty in interpretation of imaging and histology, the plethora of treatment modalities, and the complexity and intensity of the treatment contribute to the need for systematic multidisciplinary team management of patients with these diseases. An integrated multidisciplinary clinic and team with a structured sarcoma tumor board facilitate team coordination and communication. This paper reviews the rationale for multidisciplinary management of sarcoma and details the operational structure of the Multidisciplinary Sarcoma Clinic and Sarcoma Tumor Board. The structured Multidisciplinary Sarcoma Tumor Board provides opportunity for improvement in logistics, teaching, quality, and enrollment in clinical trials.