Objective：To investigate the optimal strategy of surgical treatment for primary retroperitoneal tumor (PRPT).
Methods：The clinical data of 78 patients with PRPT treated from January 1994 to May 2009 were retrospectively analyzed.
Results：Of the patients, 38 cases were malignant tumors (maximum diamater 3-25 cm and avarage 9.94 cm), and 40 cases were benign lesions (maximum diamater 7-42 cm and avarage 18.36 cm). Fifty-nine cases underwent complete resection, 15 casess underwent palliative resection, and 4 cases underwent surgical exploration and biopsy. Eighteen (30.51%) of the patients undergoing complete resection had combined resection en bloc with the adjacent organs that included colon, intestine, kidney, pancreas and spleen, respectively. Three cases underwent vascular reconstruction. There was no perioperative death. The 1-, 3- and 5-year survival rate of patients with malignant tumor undergoing complete resection was 88.04%, 73.68% and 42.1% respectively, while those undergoing palliative resection was 66.67%, 33.33% and 0, respectively. All the differences between them had statistical significance (all P＜0.01). Fifteen cases underwent reoperation due to recurrence.
Conclusions：Adequate preoperative preparation, proper operative approach and combined resection with the involved organs are the keys of surgical treatment of PRPT. Aggressive reoperation for recurrence may still improve the survival rate of PRPT patients.