Lymphographic evaluation in bone and soft tissue sarcomas.

A group of 79 patients with soft tissue sarcomas and 46 with primary malignant bone tumors underwent lymphangiography as part of the initial diagnostic workup. In the group of soft tissue sarcomas, the overall incidence of metastases was 22 of 79 (28%). According to the site of origin, the highest incidence was found in tumors originating from the buttocks (57%), followed by those from the inferior limbs (31%). Considering the histology, the incidence ranges from 50% in anaplastic sarcoma, to 43% in rhabdomyosarcoma, to 23% for liposarcoma and fibrosarcoma. The incidence of lymphographically proven metastases in bone tumors was 8 to 46 (17%), with 1 out of 4 in reticulum cell sarcoma, 1/1 in chordoma, and 22% in Ewing's sarcoma. A radiographic/histologic correlation on the lymph nodes was obtained in 19/79 (24%) soft tissue sarcomas and in 4/46 (9%) bone tumors. In the 12 radiographically negative and 11 radiographically positive cases, this correlation was always correct. The results of this study suggest a larger use of lymphography in these tumors.