Post-radiation sarcomas: presentation of a series of 116 cases

Post-radiation sarcomas are a rare and late complication of radiation treatment. The majority of them develops after 10 years. The prognostic is generally fatal. Histologically, they are malignant histiocyto-fibrosarcomas in the majority of the cases. In order to determine their risk and prognostic factors, we have decided to study all the post-radiation sarcomas diagnosed from 1975 to December 1994 in nine French anti-cancer centers. 116 cases have been included in this study. When possible, all the cases will be reviewed by the pathologists of the Sarcoma Group of the FNCLCC (Dr J. Simony-Lafontaine, Dr J.M. Coindre) to confirm the diagnosis and the histologic types. Our preliminary results will be presented and all the French anti-cancer centers are invited to participate in this study.