Staging systems for musculoskeletal neoplasms.

In the treatment of musculoskeletal neoplasms, preservation of limb function and prolongation of survival have improved over the past decade. With the current emphasis on limb salvage procedures for local control of tumors, and with the addition of adjunctive therapy, the ability to classify and stage these unusual tumors is important in determining prognosis and treatment. In such classifications, a number of prognostic factors are identified and used to define stages. Three recognized staging systems exist for sarcomas of soft tissues and two for sarcomas of bone; there is one system for benign tumors of bone. The prognostic variables used in assigning stages are common to all of these systems, but the relative significance assigned to these variables differs. Documented improvement in survival and preservation of function suggests that current staging systems are significantly affecting outcome in the management of musculoskeletal tumors.