Radiotherapy of Soft-Tissue Sarcomas

Abstract

IT HAS BEEN WIDELY ASSERTED that soft-tissue sarcomas are invariably radioresistant and, consequently, refractory to treatment by means of ionizing radiations. Occasionally, however, inoperable or recurrent tumors have been irradiated, carefully observed, and reported. The accumulated experience of isolated instances is sufficient to show rather clearly that the radiosensitivity of these tumors is sometimes surprisingly marked and not always related to any particular morphological character. The recorded data seem to justify the use of radiation as a routine postoperative procedure, for curative purposes, in some cases; the unexpectedly long palliation obtained in some advanced cases justifies recourse to radiotherapy when other means are no longer useful. But, a much wider experience and understanding is necessary to reaffirm and perhaps expand these impressions. Present indications are that, except in exceptional circumstances, radiotherapy should play a greater role as a surgical adjuvant rather than as a substitute for surgery. The student of