Richtlijn 'Diagnostiek bij wekedelentumoren en behandeling van wekedelensarcomen (herziening)'

– Members of the Dutch working group on soft tissue tumours developed an up-to-standard evidence-based multidisciplinary clinical practice guideline for the diagnosis of soft tissue tumours and the treatment and follow-up of soft tissue sarcomas, in cooperation with the Dutch Association of Comprehensive Cancer Centres and the Dutch Institute for Healthcare Improvement.

– A soft tissue sarcoma is defined as every non-epithelial tumour that does not originate in haematopoietic or lymphatic system, central nervous system or bone.

– The guideline lists ‘alarm signals’ to raise awareness of malignancy and recommends consulting a multidisciplinary team. Non-invasive imaging has to be completed before proceeding to any invasive (diagnostic) procedure or assessment of dissemination.

– Aspiration cytology can be useful for differentiating between sarcoma and other malignancies. A definite diagnosis is obtained by means of image-guided needle biopsy. Tumours will be classified according to the World Health Organization and graded according to the Fédération Nationale des Centres de Lutte Contre le Cancer.

– Surgical excision with a tumour free margin of 2 cm is the core of therapy, taking into account vital structures when necessary. In case of small superficial tumours (diameter ≤ 3 cm) excision biopsy may be justified.

– Radiotherapy is almost always necessary and certainly indicated when wide margins are impossible even after re-resection.

– In the case of primary metastatic disease, an individual decision should be taken after multi-disciplinary consultation concerning the possibility of curative or palliative treatment.

– Neither neo-adjuvant nor adjuvant chemotherapy is standard.

– Chemotherapy may be useful in metastatic disease. The guideline advises referring patients who are eligible for chemotherapy to a centre and that they should be included in a study protocol.

Ned Tijdschr Geneeskd 2005;149:924-8