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Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy and Formal Lymphadenectomy for Soft Tissue Sarcoma: A Single Center Experience of 86 Consecutive Cases

  • Sarcoma
  • Published:
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Abstract

Background

Lymph node metastases (LNMs) are rare in patients with soft tissue sarcoma (STS), and there is limited evidence to guide clinical management. We describe our experience with sentinel lymph node biopsy (SLNB) and lymphadenectomy in STS patients.

Methods

A single-center, retrospective review was performed for patients with STS treated with SLNB and/or lymphadenectomy from 1994 to 2018. Clinicopathologic characteristics, multimodality treatment, regional/distant recurrence-free survival (RFS), and overall survival (OS) were examined.

Results

Eighty-six patients underwent SLNB (n = 34) and/or lymphadenectomy (n = 60) for STS. The most frequent histologic subtypes were epithelioid, clear cell, and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma. Eight of 34 (23.5%) patients had a positive SLNB with 5-year OS of 71.4% compared with 71.9% for those with a negative SLNB. Eight of the 26 SLN-negative patients (30.8%) eventually developed nodal recurrence (n = 2) and/or (n = 6) distant metastasis with an estimated 5-year OS of 50%. Of patients undergoing lymphadenectomy, estimated 5-year OS was 44.6% and median RFS was 12 months. Eight (13.3%) had distant disease at time of lymphadenectomy, 20 (33.3%) developed distant recurrence after lymphadenectomy, and 6 (10%) developed regional-only recurrence. Patients with regional-only recurrence after lymphadenectomy had an estimated 5-year OS of 66.7% compared with 29.1% for those who recurred distantly.

Conclusions

Patients with positive SLNB had similar survival to those with negative SLNB. Lymphadenectomy for isolated nodal disease is associated with poor RFS but reasonable 5-year OS when recurrence is regional-only. In STS, regional disease appears clinically distinct from distant metastatic disease and has better outcomes.

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Funding

Kelly Hunt: Armada Health—Medical Advisory Board, Research funding to my institution - Cairn Surgical, Eli Lilly & Co., Lumicell. Russell Witt: NIH T32 CA 009599.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Surgical Oncology, The University of Texas MD Anderson Cancer Center, Houston, TX, USA

    Russell G. Witt MD, MAS, Brandon Cope MD, Derek J. Erstad MD, Yi-Ju Chiang MSPH, Elise F. Nassif MD, Christopher P. Scally MD, Keila E. Torres MD, PhD, Kelly K. Hunt MD, Barry W. Feig MD, Christina L. Roland MD, MS & Emily Z. Keung MD, AM, FACS

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  1. Russell G. Witt MD, MAS
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  2. Brandon Cope MD
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  11. Emily Z. Keung MD, AM, FACS
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Correspondence to Emily Z. Keung MD, AM, FACS.

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Witt, R.G., Cope, B., Erstad, D.J. et al. Sentinel Lymph Node Biopsy and Formal Lymphadenectomy for Soft Tissue Sarcoma: A Single Center Experience of 86 Consecutive Cases. Ann Surg Oncol 29, 7092–7100 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1245/s10434-022-11803-x

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