Abstract

From January 1970 to December 1991, thirty children under 2 years with primary soft tissue sarcoma of trunk or extremities were admitted to the Pediatric Department of the Cancer Hospital. Tumor sites were: thirteen of the trunk, thirteen of the lower limb and 4 of the upper limb. Ten patients had local disease and 20 had advanced disease at diagnosis. Eighteen tumors were classified as non rabdomiosarcoma soft tissue tumor. Fifteen patients are alive without evidence of disease, one is alive with a second tumor (LLA), three were lost to follow-up, ten died of progressive disease and one of treatment toxicity. The complete surgical removal of tumor whenever feasible, chemotherapy, or radiation therapy, alone or in a combined form were made primarily on the basis of the histology of the tumor and extent of the disease (stage) and have markedly improved the survival in patients with soft tissue sarcomas.

The long term side effects of cancer chemotherapy and radiation therapy on growth and possible carcinogenic and teratogenic effects are well defined.

We could observe effects of muscles and soft tissue development with radiation therapy. Radiation therapy in pediatric malignant diseases requires detailed attention to maximize effectivenen without radiation damage.

A greater effort must be made to incorporate the advances made in basic science of cancer and pharmacology into design and use of chemotherapeutic treatment modalities. The major prognostic factor was stage at diagnosis.

Key words: soft tissue sarcomas; trunk and extremities; infants