Survival in soft tissue sarcoma. Prognostic variables identified by multivariate analysis.

The prognostic influence of 15 separate factors on local recurrence and survival was analyzed in 144 patients with highly malignant (histologic Grades III and IV) soft tissue sarcoma of the locomotor system. The minimum follow-up time was 6 years, or until death. Three factors, marginal excision, tumor necrosis, and extracompartmental tumor location were identified as risk factors for local recurrence. Five factors, local recurrence, Grade IV, male sex, tumor necrosis, and increasing tumor size were associated with decreased life expectancy.