Patterns of infiltration and local recurrences of various types of cutaneous sarcomas following three‐dimensional histology. (11th December 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Welsch, Katharina; Breuninger, Helmut; Metzler, Gisela; Sickinger, Franziska; Eberle, Franziska Carola; Häfner, Hans‐Martin; Schnabl, Saskia Maria
• Is Part Of: Journal der Deutschen Dermatologischen Gesellschaft. Volume 16:Number 12(2018)
• Page Start: 1434
• Page End: 1442
• Publication Date: 2018-12-11
• Subjects: Skin -- Diseases -- Periodicals; Dermatology -- Periodicals; 616.5005
• DOI: 10.1111/ddg.13708
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1610-0379

Abstract

Summary: Background: Cutaneous sarcomas are rare and characterized by pathogenetic heterogeneity. Knowledge about local infiltration patterns and recurrence rates may be useful in improving patient care and outcomes. The objective of the present study was to compare these two characteristics in sarcomas that had been treated using the identical surgical procedure. Patients and methods: Between 2006–2010, 84 patients with various types of sarcoma underwent surgery followed by three‐dimensional histology. Tumor entities included dermatofibrosarcoma protuberans (DFSP, 54 patients), leiomyosarcoma (ten patients), rhabdomyosarcoma (one patient), angiosarcoma (seven patients) as well as atypical fibroxanthoma (AFX, three patients) and cutaneous undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS, nine patients). Median follow‐up was four years (range: 2–6 years). Results: Local recurrence rates among patients with primary DFSP were 2.2 %. All patients undergoing re‐excision were subsequently tumor free. Patients with leiomyosarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, AFX, and cutaneous UPS experienced no local recurrence; however, one individual developed in‐transit metastasis (UPS) (8.3 %). Three patients with angiosarcoma developed local recurrence (43 %), two of whom remained tumor free following re‐excision. Two angiosarcoma patients died from distant metastases (29 %). Both DFSP and especially angiosarcoma lesions exhibited extensive subclinical growth. Conclusions: Recurrence rates of cutaneous sarcomas following three‐dimensional histology are low. Local recurrences are readily manageable by re‐excision. Angiosarcoma is characterized by extensive superficial growth, aggressive biological behavior, and predominantly hematogenous spread.