Primary retroperitoneal tumors: review of our 10-year case series.

Objectives: To investigate our case series of patients with primary retroperitoneal tumors over the past 10 years, analyzing clinical symptoms, diagnostic tests, tumor pathology, surgical data, concomitant cancer treatments, recurrence and survival rates.

Methods: Retrospective analysis of 37 patients with primary retroperitoneal tumors diagnosed at our hospital over the past 10 years.

Results: Computed tomography (CT) was the imaging technique used most often and the most accurate. Tumors were malignant in 83% of patients and benign in 17%. Complete tumor resection was performed in 73% of cases; the most common approach was midline laparotomy. Neighboring organs were also removed in 51.8% of cases in which radical resection was performed. The recurrence rate was 45% in patients who underwent surgery. Median time to onset of recurrence following open surgery was 23 months. Repeat resection was performed in 66% of cases with recurrence. Five-year survival following total resection of malignant tumors was 44%. The mean patient survival after repeat resection was 9.8 months.

Conclusions: Primary retroperitoneal tumors are rare and usually malignant. Surgery is the treatment of choice and complete tumor resection is the main factor that determines prognosis.