A prospective randomized trial of adjuvant brachytherapy in the management of low-grade soft tissue sarcomas of the extremity and superficial trunk

Purpose: This study was designed to evaluate the impact of adjuvant brachytherapy (BRT) on local and systemic recurrence rates in patients with low-grade sarcoma. Patients and Methods: Forty-five patients with histologic low-grade, completely resected soft tissue sarcomas of the extremity or superficial trunk were entered onto this trial. Following resection of all gross disease, patients were randomized to the BRT arm (n=22) or to the no-BRT arm (n=23). On the fifth or sixth postoperative day, catheters were loaded with iridium 192 to deliver a dose of 45 Gy to the tumor bed over 4 to 6 days