Objective:To explore the diagnosis and re-operation of the recurrent retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma (RPS).
Methods:Clinical data of 25 patients with recurrent RPS were retrospectively analyzed.
Results:All of 25 cases of recurrent RPS were diagnosed by operation and postoperative pathologic examination. They underwent a total of 42 time operations, with mean time of re-operations was 1.68. Of the 42 time operations, 26 time were complete resection, 11 time partial resection and 5 time only biopsy. A total of 19 cases underwent removal of contiguous intra-abdominal organs and 5 underwent resection of major invaded blood vessel. The 1-, 3-and 5-year survival rate of recurrent RPS was 52.0%, 40.0% and 28.0% respectively. The rate of complete resection in recurrent RPS with major blood vessel invasion was 35.7%. In contrast, the complete resection rate in recurrent RPS without major blood vessel invasion was 75%（P=0.013）. On the other hand, there was no significant difference in complete resection rate between the recurrent RPS with adjacent organs invasion and the recurrent RPS with no adjacent organs invasion（P=0.462）.
Conclusions:Preoperative imaging results are crucial factor for assessment of operative resectability. Unless there are obvious comtraindications, recurrent RPS should undergo aggressive surgical excision.