Updated Review and Clinical Recommendations for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Patients with Retroperitoneal Sarcoma by the Spanish Sarcoma Research Group (GEIS)

Soft tissue sarcomas (STS) are an uncommon and biologically heterogeneous group of tumors arising from mesenchymal cells. The incidence is estimated at five cases per 100,000 people per year. Retroperitoneal sarcomas (RPS) account for 10-15% of all STS, and their management depends on their anatomical characteristics and histotype. Due to their very low incidence, it is recommended that RPS be treated in reference centers and evaluated by an experienced multidisciplinary team (MDT). In Spain, the Spanish Group for Research in Sarcomas (GEIS) brings together experts from various specialties to promote research on sarcomas and improve treatment results. This paper summarizes the GEIS recommendations for the diagnosis, treatment, and follow-up of patients with RPS.

Impact of biliary drainage prior to pancreatectomy

BACKGROUND

There is still a lack of clarity about the benefits of preoperative biliary drainage (PBD), which was introduced to improve the perioperative outcome in patients with obstructive jaundice caused by a periampullary tumour. The aim of this study was to determine whether operative and postoperative complications increase in patients undergoing PBD during pancreatoduodenectomy (PD).

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Retrospective examination was made of patients who underwent PBD for a periampullary tumour in our hospital between 2006 and 2014. From these, the patients were identified who had PBD with endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography and these patients were further separated into two groups, as one group of patients with plastic stents and the other group of patients with metallic stents. Patients with pancreas head cancer were also separated into two groups as those who were and were not applied with PBD. The preoperative, intraoperative and postoperative characteristics of the patients were evaluated.

RESULTS

A total of 123 patients were retrospectively reviewed. Biliary stent placement with PBD was applied to 48 patients, of whom 31 had metallic stents and 17 had plastic stents. In general, there was no difference between the PBD and the non-PBD groups in respect of the preoperative, operative and postoperative results. When patients with tumour of the pancreas head only were examined, the rate of wound infection was higher in the PBD group and there was no difference in the other parameters. Moreover, there was no difference between the patients with metallic stents and those with plastic stents in respect of outcomes.

CONCLUSIONS

With the exception of wound site infection, although no difference was observed between the PBD and the non-PBD groups based on intraoperative and postoperative complications, because of the distinctive inherent complications of PBD it is essential to manage such patients properly and to carefully select the patients for the PBD procedure.

Update in pelvic and retroperitoneal sarcoma management: The role of compartment surgery

Surgery for retroperitoneal sarcomas should be "en bloc" compartmental, which involves resection of unaffected organs. Its upfront use is key, providing a high percentage of resections with negative margins, resulting in a better local control and increased survival in many patients. Preservation of organs should be done in an individualized manner, especially in the pelvic location, and adapted to the histological aggressiveness of the tumor. Preoperative biopsy is able to establish the diagnosis of sarcoma subtype and consequently an adequate perioperative strategy. These patients should be managed by expert surgeons at referral centers with multidisciplinary units and oncology committees. The use of chemotherapy and radiotherapy is not yet well defined, so it is only recommended at referral centers with clinical trials. Currently, this is the only option to offer the best morbidity and mortality rates, as well as possible improvements in the survival of these patients.

[Primary, non-metastatic gastrointestinal stromal tumour surgery: results of the GRISK study]

INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVES

Radical surgery is the standard treatment for localised gastrointestinal stromal tumours (GIST). A series of primary GIST, their treatment and pre-established risk of recurrence after their follow-up is evaluated.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

A retrospective, descriptive and multicentre study was conducted on primary, non-metastatic GIST operated on between June 2007 and December 2008. The variables of greater relevance were analysed, including, location, size, mitotic index, and NHI and AFIP recurrence prognostic criteria, and their correlation with the disease-free survival (DFS) of the patients.

RESULTS

The series included 141 patients with a mean age of 65 years. The most frequent GIST location was in the stomach (70.8%) and small intestine (22.9%), and with a mean tumour size of 6.7 cm (0.5-35 cm). The surgery was R0 in 97.2% of cases (laparoscopic approach, 21.5%). The distribution according to NHI/Flescher criteria was, high (31.95%), and intermediate (26.4%), and according to AFIP/Miettinen criteria it was, high (22.9%) and intermediate (12.5%). After a mean follow-up of 20.3 months, there was a 7.1% (10 cases) recurrence, with only 2 cases belonging to the group with a «low risk» using the NHI and AFIP prognostic criteria. The DFS at one year was 95.5% and 91.5% at 2 years.

CONCLUSIONS

The series showed a high DFS and a good correlation with both the Flescher and the Miettinen criteria. However, the risk of recurrence varied according to the AFIP criteria (intermediate/high, 58.3%), or the AFIP criteria (intermediate/high, 35.4%) which included the tumour location. For this reason, we consider these latter criteria as the most adequate for assessing the prognostic risk of GIST recurrence.