Surgery in the management of soft tissue sarcoma.

Surgery and radiotherapy are complementary methods of achieving control of primary soft tissue sarcoma. The extent of operation is influenced by adjuvant irradiation which is important in limb conservation surgery where satisfactory margins are not always possible. Modern reconstructive techniques have extended the possibilities of salvage especially in the irradiated limb. Trucut needle biopsy provides an accurate tissue diagnosis in a high proportion of cases.