Buttockectomy as a limbsaving procedure for locally advanced soft tissue sarcoma of the buttock region

Aims To investigate the effectiveness of a buttockectomy, an unusual surgical procedure for locally advanced soft tissue sarcoma of the buttock region. Methods Nine buttockectomy procedures were performed in eight patients for primary (8) or recurrent (1) locally advanced soft tissue sarcoma of the buttocks. Adjuvant external beam radiation therapy was applied within 6 weeks after seven procedures. There were no post-operative complications. Results No local recurrences occurred in this series. However, distant metastases developed in five patients (63%) after a mean follow-up of 16 months (range 6–25). Overall and disease-free 5-year survival rates were 38 and 25%, respectively. Conclusion Buttockectomy with post-operative external beam radiation therapy may be an effective limbsaving treatment option to achieve local tumour control in selected soft tissue sarcomas of the buttock region without an increased surgical and/or radiation-induced morbidity.