Table 2.
Complications due to radiotherapy after HDR-BT, EBRT, or both after excision of extremity soft tissue sarcomas
| Variable | HDR-BT | EBRT | p Value (HDR-BT versus EBRT) | Both | p Value (HDR-BT versus combined) | p Value (EBRT versus combined) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Number of patients | 37 | 141 | 12 | |||
| Complications (number) | 29 | 164 | 17 | |||
| Cellulitis | 5 (14%) | 6 (4%) | 0.053 | 1 (8%) | 1 | 0.99 |
| Chronic pain/neuritis | 1 (3%) | 11 (8%) | 0.46 | 2 (17%) | 0.14 | 0.60 |
| Dehiscence/delayed wound healing | 2 (5%) | 13 (9%) | 0.53 | 1 (8%) | 1 | 1 |
| Chronic edema | 1 (3%) | 31 (22%) | 0.007 | 5 (42%) | 0.001 | 0.13 |
| Fibrosis | 4 (11%) | 30 (21%) | 0.17 | 1 (8%) | 1 | 0.46 |
| Pathologic fracture | 1 (3%) | 10 (7%) | 1 | 1 (8%) | 1 | 1 |
| Seroma/hematoma | 5 (14%) | 17 (12%) | 1 | 1 (8%) | 1 | 1 |
| Deep infection | 9 (24%) | 14 (10%) | 0.03 | 2 (17%) | 0.71 | 0.62 |
| Chronic radiation dermatitis | 1 (3%) | 32 (23%) | 0.008 | 1 (8%) | 0.43 | 0.31 |
| Other | 0 (0%) | 0 (0%) | 2 (17%) | 0.049 | 0.005 | |
| Total number of patients with any complication | 25 (68%) | 106 (75%) | 0.04 | 9 (75%) | 0.73 | 1 |
| Major (operative) complications (number) | 8 (22%) | 21 (15%) | 0.45 | 4 (33%) | 0.45 | 0.11 |
HDR-BT = high-dose-rate brachytherapy; EBRT = external-beam radiotherapy.