The role of plastic surgery in sarcoma treatment.

[INTRODUCTION] Sarcomas are low-incidence tumours, but their poor prognosis and complex treatment require the work of a multidisciplinary medical team. The Plastic Surgery Service forms part of the Sarcoma Functional Unit in our centre, performing tumour exeresis as well as immediate reconstruction.

[MATERIALS AND METHODS] We present a retrospective study on the experience of the Plastic Surgery Service of the Hospital Universitario de Bellvitge in the treatment of 133 sarcomas over 20 years.

[RESULTS] The surgical treatment was based on local radical surgery supported by primary reconstructive surgery in 42.9% of the cases, with an amputation rate in limb sarcomas of 9.7%. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy were used in the high-grade sarcomas as adjuvant treatment. The anatomical location of the head and neck was associated with the need for reconstructive procedures. Survival free from local recurrence was 84.72% at 5 years. Disease-specific survival was 81.22% at 5 years. The only prognostic factor for survival in our series was histological grade.

[CONCLUSIONS] Primary reconstructive surgery has a fundamental role in sarcoma treatment enabling radical surgical resection, avoiding amputations and facilitating adjuvant treatments.