Radiotherapy in soft tissue sarcoma of the extremities.

The local treatment of soft tissue sarcoma is evolving. Limb-sparing compartmentectomy offers local control but at the expense of function and a high amputation rate. The functional outcome is improved with combined wide excision and radiotherapy, at the same time achieving a similar local control rate. Future directions should include attempts to reduce toxicity and maximise the functional result. As the limb function is ultimately related to the aggressiveness of the local treatment, the optimum surgical margin, radiation volume and dose, require further investigation. The pursuit of local control should not be compromised in the quest for reducing morbidity, as the relationship between local control and survival remains unclear.