Purpose: The purpose of this study was to evaluate the clinical manifestation, pathological frequency, and treatment results of primary sarcoma on hands and feet.
Materials and Methods : Among 382 patients who were registered to have tumors on hands or feet (hands 220 cases, foot 162 cases) between 1995 and April 2005, 18 patients were diagnosed to have primary sarcoma and were studied retrospectively.
Results: Among 579 cases of primary sarcomas of extremities reviewed, 18 cases(3.1%) were found on hands and/or feet (7 on hands, 11 on feet). They occupy about 3.2% of all hand tumors, and 6.7% of tumors of the foot and ankle. The most common clinical presentation was pain in 8 cases followed by painful swelling and painless swelling 5 cases respectively. The most common site was carpal area for hands in 4 cases and hindfoot for feet in 5cases. There was 13 soft tissue sarcoma and the most frequent histological type was synovial sarcoma in 4cases, followed by clear cell sarcoma and malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor and chondrosarcoma in 3 cases respectively. Amputation was performed in 8 cases, wide excision in 5 cases, and curettage only in 1 case. Four patients died during the follow up period (two patients were given wide excision, and the two were given amputation).
Conclusion: Primary sarcoma on hands or feet are rare (about 3% of all sarcomas). The clinical manifestation are vague and it is difficult to distinguish between malignant tumor from benign. Most were diagnosed in relatively smaller size but in many cases wide excision was impossible because of small amount of soft tissue.