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What do you consider a curative radiation dose for a sarcoma?

If a patient with a high grade sarcoma has gross residual/recurrent disease after resection and cannot undergo further surgery - would you boost this to a higher dose? 70Gy?
5 Answers
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Surgical Oncology · Temple University
Answered on

This is a difficult predicament. We would certainly try to re-resect if at all possible; if not, a consideration could always be made for an amputation, but we try to avoid this if at all possible. Other options during the time of resection are consideration for brachytherapy. We would also discuss ...

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Radiation Oncology · University of Florida
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Unresectable means either extensive or terrible location. Subtotal resection won’t help and will likely contaminate adjacent tissues. Plus the tumor may be displacing OAR. So use as much dose as you can get away with, and reasonably minimize the risk of a disastrous complication. There will be no sa...

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Radiation Oncology · Allegheny Health Network, Pittsburgh
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With gross residual disease that is unresectable, the question is whether there is a curative dose per se. It's reasonable to consider 70 gy. While not in this clinical situation, there is some data on sbrt for oligometastatic sarcoma for gross disease.

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Radiation Oncology · AdventHealth
Answered on

Excellent question and I agree with all the above points. SBRT is an excellent choice for smaller lesions, <5 cm.

Targeting 70 Gy is reasonable with modern intensity modulated RT. There are some data to be aware of that can assist in formulating a strategy:

  • Harvard series of unresected sarcoma shows ...

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Medical Oncology · University of Miami Sylvester Comprehensive Cancer Center
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Recurrence: I agree with the above. It’s challenging to speak with certainty without details. In general: in this situation we prefer not to radiate gross residual disease. We would likely use chemotherapy to cytoreduce, then reresect or radiate.

Gross residual disease: this situation is exceptiona...

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