Follow-up of the soft tissue sarcoma patient

Efficacy and Cost-Benefit Analysis of Magnetic Resonance Imaging in the Follow-Up of Soft Tissue Sarcomas of the Extremities and Trunk

There is no consensus regarding follow-up after soft tissue sarcoma (STS) treatment. This study examines the efficacy and the cost-benefit of MRI imaging for discovering recurrence. A retrospective analysis was performed, collecting data on patient demography, tumor characteristics, treatment, and follow-up. Imaging was correlated to the clinical course, and sensitivity, specificity, and predictive values were calculated. The number needed to screen and costs of finding recurrence are reported. Amongst 216 sarcomas, 73 (35%) exhibited local recurrence during a follow-up of 5.3 ± 3.5 years. 173 entities had complete MRI follow-up with 58 (34%) local recurrences. Thirty-three (57%) were discovered by MRI, 8 (14%) by clinical presentation, and 17 (29%) simultaneously. There was a sensitivity of 100.00%, a specificity of 89%, a positive predictive value of 32%, and a negative predictive value of 100% for detecting local recurrence with MRI. Our data confirm the modalities and intervals proposed by the German guidelines for sarcoma care. The recommended MRI intervals should not be extended. MRI is more cost-effective than clinical examination; still, both modalities should be performed together to discover the maximum number of recurrences.

National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines compliance of a sarcoma service: A retrospective review

BACKGROUND

Clinical workup and treatment guidelines have been published by the National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) to ensure patients are treated uniformly and appropriately. This study sought to retrospectively review patients with a new diagnosis of sarcoma who were treated in a National Cancer Institute (NCI) designated center and determine compliance rates with guidelines for sarcoma.

AIM

To evaluate our compliance of NCCN sarcoma guidelines at a major NCI designated center and to report instances of deviation that could be used for future studies to improve patient care.

METHODS

Data was collected retrospectively as an internal review and quality assessment of 35 newly diagnosed and treated patients. Demographic data were recorded and information concerning whether patients had appropriate imaging, biopsy and management. Variables of interest were expressed as raw numbers and percentages.

RESULTS

Primary site imaging was obtained in 100% of cases. Chest and full-body imaging were obtained in 97% and 100% of indicated cases, respectively. Tissue was obtained preoperatively in 97% of cases. Imaging was reviewed at multidisciplinary Treatment Planning Conference (TPC) in 97% of cases. Pathology was reviewed in 94% of cases in TPC. Both tumor, node, metastasis staging and plan of care were reviewed in 100% of cases in TPC. Treatment guidelines were followed in 94% of cases reviewed.

CONCLUSION

This study evaluated the workup and treatment provided by a single NCI designated sarcoma service to a series of patients with pathologies defined with the NCCN sarcoma treatment guidelines. Although adherence to NCCN was reported to be very high future prospective studies are required to investigate whether NCCN guidelines impact patient outcomes.

Cost-effectiveness analysis of imaging surveillance in stage II and III extremity soft tissue sarcoma: an Australian perspective

Background

Surveillance imaging is used to detect local and/or distant recurrence following primary treatment of localised soft tissue sarcoma (STS), however evidence supporting optimal surveillance modality or frequency is lacking. We used prospectively collected sarcoma data to describe current surveillance imaging practice in patients with AJCC stage II and III extremity STS and evaluate its cost-effectiveness.

Methods

From three selected Australian sarcoma referral centres, we identified patients with stage II and III extremity STS treated between 2009 and 2013. Medical records were reviewed to ascertain surveillance imaging practices, including modality, frequency and patient outcomes. A discrete event simulation model was developed and calibrated using clinical data to estimate health service costs and quality adjusted life years (QALYs) associated with alternative surveillance strategies.

Results

Of 133 patients treated for stage II and III extremity STS, the majority were followed up with CT chest (86%), most commonly at 3-monthly intervals and 62% of patients had the primary site imaged with MRI at 6-monthly. There was limited use of chest-X-ray. A discrete event simulation model demonstrated that CT chest screening was the most cost effective surveillance strategy, gaining additional QALYs at a mean incremental cost of $30,743. MRI alone and PET-CT alone were not cost-effective, whilst a combined strategy of CT + MRI had an incremental cost per QALY gained of $96,556.

Conclusions

Wide variations were observed in surveillance imaging practices in this high-risk STS cohort. Modelling demonstrated the value of CT chest for distant recurrence surveillance over other forms of imaging in terms of cost and QALYs. Further work is required to evaluate cost-effectiveness in a prospective manner.

Lung Surveillance Strategy for High-Grade Soft Tissue Sarcomas: Chest X-Ray or CT Scan?

BACKGROUND

Given the propensity for lung metastases, National Comprehensive Cancer Network guidelines recommend lung surveillance with either chest x-ray (CXR) or CT in high-grade soft tissue sarcoma. Considering survival, diagnostic sensitivity, and cost, the optimal modality is unknown.

METHODS

The US Sarcoma Collaborative database (2000 to 2016) was reviewed for patients who underwent resection of a primary high-grade soft tissue sarcoma. Primary end point was overall survival (OS). Cost analysis was performed.

RESULTS

Among 909 patients, 83% had truncal/extremity and 17% had retroperitoneal tumors. Recurrence occurred in 48%, of which 54% were lung metastases. Lung surveillance was performed with CT in 80% and CXR in 20%. Both groups were clinically similar, although CT patients had more retroperitoneal tumors and recurrences. Regardless of modality, 85% to 90% of lung metastases were detected within the first 2 years with a similar re-intervention rate. When considering age, tumor size, location, margin status, and receipt of radiation, lung metastasis was independently associated with worse OS (hazard ratio 4.26; p < 0.01) and imaging modality was not (hazard ratio 1.01; p = 0.97). Chest x-ray patients did not have an inferior 5-year OS rate compared with CT (71% vs 60%; p < 0.01). When analyzing patients in whom no lung metastases were detected, both cohorts had a similar 5-year OS rate (73% vs 74%; p = 0.42), suggesting CXR was not missing clinically relevant lung nodules. When adhering to a guideline-specified protocol for 2018 projected 4,406 cases, surveillance with CXR for 5 years results in savings of $5 million to $8 million/year to the US healthcare system.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large multicenter study, lung surveillance with CXR did not result in worse overall survival compared with CT. With considerable savings, a CXR-based protocol can optimize resource use for lung surveillance in high-grade soft tissue sarcoma; prospective trials are needed.

Cost-Effectiveness of Surveillance for Distant Recurrence in Extremity Soft Tissue Sarcoma

BACKGROUND

Optimal distant recurrence (DR) surveillance strategies for extremity soft tissue sarcoma (STS) are unknown. We performed a cost-effectiveness analysis of different imaging modalities performed at guideline-specified intervals.

METHODS

We developed a Markov model simulating lifetime outcomes for 54-year-old patients after definitive treatment for American Joint Committee on Cancer stage II-III extremity STS using four surveillance strategies: watchful waiting (WW), chest X-ray (CXR), chest computed tomography (CCT), and positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET/CT). Probabilities, utilities, and costs were extracted from the literature and Medicare claims to determine incremental cost-effectiveness ratios (ICER).

RESULTS

CCT was the most effective and most costly strategy with CXR the most cost-effective strategy at a societal willing-to-pay (WTP) of $100,000/quality-adjusted life year (QALY). The ICER was $12,113/QALY for CXR versus $104,366/QALY for CCT while PET/CT was never cost-effective. Sensitivity analyses demonstrated CCT becomes the preferred imaging modality as the lifetime risk of DR increases beyond 33% or as the WTP increases beyond $120,000/QALY.

CONCLUSIONS

Optimal DR surveillance imaging for stage II-III extremity STS should be individualized based on patients' risks for DR. These results suggest CXR, or CCT performed at more protracted intervals, may be preferred for lower-risk patients (i.e., DR risk <33%), whereas CCT may be preferred for higher-risk patients (i.e., DR risk >33%). Further study of optimal strategies is needed. In the interim, these findings may help to refine guidelines to reduce resource overutilization during routine surveillance of lower-risk sarcoma patients.

Gadolinium Contrast Enhancement Improves Confidence in Diagnosing Recurrent Soft Tissue Sarcoma by MRI

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

To determine how utilization of postgadolinium magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) influenced reader accuracy and confidence at identifying postoperative soft tissue sarcoma (STS) recurrence among readers with various levels of expertise.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

This retrospective study was institutional review board approved and Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act compliant. Postoperative MRI from 26 patients with prior STS resection (13 patients with confirmed recurrence, 13 without recurrence) was reviewed. Four blinded readers of varying expertise (radiology resident, fellow, attending, and orthopedic oncologist) initially evaluated only the precontrast images and rated each MRI for recurrence on a 5-point confidence scale. Assessment was repeated with the addition of contrast-enhanced sequences. Diagnostic accuracy based on confidence ratings was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). Changes in confidence ratings were calculated using Wilcoxon signed-rank test.

RESULTS

All readers demonstrated good diagnostic accuracy both with and without contrast-enhanced images (AUC >0.98 for each reader). When contrast-enhanced images were made available, the resident recorded improved confidence with both assigning (P = 0.031) and excluding recurrence (P = 0.006); the fellow showed improved confidence only with assigning recurrence (P = 0.015); and the surgeon showed improved confidence in excluding recurrence (P = 0.003). The addition of contrast-enhanced images did not significantly influence the diagnostic confidence of the attending radiologist.

CONCLUSIONS

Diagnostic accuracy of MRI was excellent in evaluating postoperative STS recurrence, and reader confidence improved depending on expertise when postgadolinium imaging was included in the assessment.

The impact and efficacy of surveillance in patients with sarcoma of the extremities

OBJECTIVES

In this cross sectional study, the impact and the efficacy of a surveillance programme for sarcomas of the extremities was analysed.

METHODS

All patients who had treatment with curative intent for a high-grade sarcoma and were diagnosed before 2014 were included and followed for a minimum of two years.

RESULTS

Of the 909 patients who had a review appointment in 2014, 131 were under review for a high-grade sarcoma of the extremities following treatment with curative intent. Of these patients, three patients died of disease, two patients died of other causes, 12 are alive, with disease, and 114 have no evidence of disease. The surveillance programme accounts for 14% of all review appointments.Four of five patients (80%) who developed local recurrence identified the recurrence themselves. Chest radiographs are adequate in identifying metastatic disease and 11 (73%) of metastases were diagnosed during a routine follow up visit. However, the chance of cure is small and only two patients were referred for a metastatectomy. Of these only one survived for more than two years.The mean time for developing metastatic disease and local recurrence was 2.0 and 3.9 years respectively. Once identified, the mean time to death was 2.1 years for patients with metastatic disease.

CONCLUSIONS

Surveillance of sarcoma patients makes up a substantial amount of the workload of a sarcoma unit. The chance of cure following identification of local recurrence or metastatic disease, however, is small. Alternative methods of surveillance that allow better evaluation of the patient's needs are recommended.Cite this article: P. Cool, G. Cribb. The impact and efficacy of surveillance in patients with sarcoma of the extremities. Bone Joint Res 2017;6:224-230. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.64.BJR-2016-0253.R1.

Primary breast sarcoma: A retrospective study over 35 years from a single institution

AIM

The aim of this study was to contribute to the collected knowledge of prognostic factors in primary breast sarcomas (PBS) to the benefit of possible future prospective studies and therapeutic guidelines.

METHOD

All patients with pathologically verified PBS in the period of 1979-2014 were extracted from a hospital-based database at Aarhus University Hospital. All records were reviewed for patient and tumor characteristics. Primary endpoints were overall survival, disease-free survival (DFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS). Adjustments were made for age, tumor location, surgical strategy, size, histological classification, prior radiation and grade. Prognostic factors were determined by the use of Cox proportional hazard ratio.

RESULTS

In total 42 patients were identified. Surgical resection was the main method of treatment. Nineteen (45%) patients were initially selected for lumpectomy, of these 68% needed at least one re-excision to attain wide margins. In total 55% experienced recurrence, loco regional in 43%. Five-years overall survival was 49%, five-year DFS was 48% and five-year DSS was 40%. Significant prognostic factors were size and grade. A trend towards better survival in those with superficial tumors was observed as well as an increased incidence in radiation-induced angiosarcoma (AS) of the breast, however, prognosis was no different from non-radiation-induced AS.

CONCLUSION

Prognostic factors in PBS patients were size and grade with a trend towards better survival in those with superficial tumors. There was no difference in survival between radiation-induced and spontaneous breast sarcomas. High rate of local recurrence suggests the need for aggressive surgical approach or the routine addition of postoperative radiotherapy in those selected for breast conserving surgery (BCS).