Surgery and radiotherapy in the treatment of early stage uterine sarcomas.

Twenty-three patients with early stage uterine sarcomas underwent surgery (5 patients) or surgery and pelvic irradiation (18 patients). Twelve (52%) of the patients developed a recurrence: relapsing disease was pelvic in 3 (25%) of them, extrapelvic in 8 (66.7%) and both pelvic and extrapelvic in one (8.3%). Out of the whole series the 2- and 5-year actuarial survival rates were 61% and 33% respectively. Among the patients with leiomyosarcoma the 2- and 5-year actuarial survival rates were 54% and 39% respectively. Among the patients with carcinosarcoma the 2- and 5-year actuarial survival rates were 66% and 23% respectively. The high incidence of extrapelvic recurrences after locoregional treatment seems to suggest the use of an adjuvant chemotherapy in the management of patients with early stage uterine sarcomas.