PURPOSE: To review the clinical characteristics of 1470 @entity242 cases and to define the factors in @entity1 that predict out come, relapse and survival. METHODS: Retrospective analysis of the database for the period 1991-2002, focusing on demographic, @entity5 related and treatment related variables, relapse free survival (RFS) and overall survival (OS) using the Kaplan- Meier method. Statistical significance was evaluated using the chi square and t- tests for univariate influence and a Cox regression model for multivariate influence. RESULTS: Mean age was 30 years. The male to female ratio was 3/2 and 23% of the cases were under 16 years of age. Median @entity5 diameter was 10.5 centimeters. The bone to soft tissue @entity242 ratio was 3/1 in @entity1 and 1/3 in adults. @entity421 , @entity5 and @entity980 accounted for 83% of @entity5 . In @entity421 , @entity1352 and malignant fibrous histocytomas (MFHs) were the most common subtypes. Mean follow up time was 56 months. Of the total, 25% had initial @entity3 , 86% received chemotherapy and 41 % underwent radiotherapy. The main prognostic factors for survival were @entity5 size, margin of surgery, neurovascular involvement in the pathological report, initial @entity3 and no complete response to first therapy. Adjuvant radiotherapy, small @entity5 size, curative surgery with chemotherapy and free surgical margins were significantly associated with reduced recurrence. CONCLUSION: Our @entity1 are characterised by diagnosis with a large @entity5 size, advanced stage of disease and short survival. A complete response to primary therapy is the main independent variable for overall survival. Earlier diagnosis and an experienced team including surgical, medical and radiotherapy oncologists are needed for a better response and longer survival of @entity1 .

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@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['children', 'patients'] @entity242 :: ('MESH:D012509', 'Disease') :: ['sarcoma'] @entity5 :: ('MESH:D009369', 'Disease') :: ['tumor', "Ewing's tumours", 'childhood tumors'] @entity1352 :: ('MESH:D013584', 'Disease') :: ['synovial sarcomas'] @entity421 :: ('MESH:D012516', 'Disease') :: ['Osteosarcoma', 'adults osteosarcomas'] @entity3 :: ('MESH:D009362', 'Disease') :: ['metastasis'] @entity980 :: ('MESH:D012208', 'Disease') :: ['rhabdomyosarcomas']
@entity242 :: (MESH:D012509,Disease) :: ['Sarcoma']
