Post-Traumatic Sarcomas: Do They Exist?. (October 2019)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Montgomery, Corey; Park, Kwan J.; Gardner, Jerad M.; Majors, Issac; Nicholas, Richard
• Is Part Of: International journal of surgical pathology. Volume 27:Number 7(2019)
• Page Start: 722
• Page End: 728
• Publication Date: 2019-10
• Subjects: sarcoma -- trauma -- injury; Pathology, Surgical -- Periodicals; 617.07
• DOI: 10.1177/1066896919848495
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 1066-8969

Abstract

Patients often cite a history of trauma prior to the diagnosis of a sarcoma. Sparse literature suggests that there may be a link between sarcoma development and trauma. A 10-year review of academic tertiary-referral sarcoma center database was examined to identify patients who developed a sarcoma after having a history of a significant musculoskeletal trauma. A total of 501 patients were treated for a sarcoma during this time period. Six patients were identified as previously having a significant musculoskeletal trauma at the site of sarcoma development. Half of the sarcomas arose in bone and the other half in soft tissue. Five (83%) patients had multiple operations for the injury with 3 (50%) patients having a postoperative wound infection. The average time from injury to development of the sarcoma was 19.8 years. Survival after diagnosis was poor, and 4 (67%) of the patients died due to their metastatic disease within 3 years of diagnosis. Our findings suggest the possibility of post-traumatic sarcomas.