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Epithelioid sarcoma: Clinical behavior and prognostic factors of survival

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Abstract

Background: Epithelioid sarcoma is a rare histologic subtype of sarcoma. The clinical behavior and prognostic factors influencing survival in this disease are examined.

Methods: A review of clinicopathologic features of patients with epithelioid sarcoma prospectively followed between July 1982 and July 1995 at Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center was performed. Kaplan-Meier and log-rank analysis were used.

Results: Eleven men (69%) and five women (31%) were treated during this period. Mean age at diagnosis was 33 years, and length of symptoms before diagnosis was 18 months. Tumors presented in the trunk in 44% of patients, the lower extremity in 31%, and the upper extremity in 25%. Median follow-up time was 45 months. At least one local recurrence was experienced by 69% of patients. Metastases to regional lymph nodes during the course of the disease developed in 44% of patients and to the lungs in 44%. Median survival was 88.8 months, with a 66% 5-year survival rate. Pulmonary metastasis was correlated with decreased survival.

Conclusions: A delay in diagnosis of epithelioid sarcoma is common. Epithelioid sarcoma differs from other sarcoma subtypes in propensity for nodal spread and local recurrence. Careful follow-up evaluating local recurrence, nodal spread, and pulmonary metastases is warranted.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. the Department of Pathology, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, New York, New York, USA

    James M. Woodruff MD

  2. Dept. of Surgery, Memorial Sloan-Kettering Cancer Center, 1275 York Ave., 10021, New York, NY, USA

    Howard M. Ross MD,  Jonathan J. Lewis MD, PhD & Murray F. Brennan MD

Authors
  1. Howard M. Ross MD
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  2. Jonathan J. Lewis MD, PhD
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  3. James M. Woodruff MD
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  4. Murray F. Brennan MD
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Ross, H.M., Lewis, J.J., Woodruff, J.M. et al. Epithelioid sarcoma: Clinical behavior and prognostic factors of survival. Annals of Surgical Oncology 4, 491–495 (1997). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02303673

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/BF02303673

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