RESUMEN
In an analysis of data of 526 patients with carcomas of the extremity soft tissues the factors influencing the decision on the volume of surgery were determine. The 5 year survival of patients subjected to amputations was considerably lower than after sparing operations. Amputations were mostly made for local recurrences of the disease, neoplasm larger than 15 cm in diameter, low-differentiated sarcomas, with infiltration of the tumor into the bone and/or periosteum and localization of the tumor in distal parts of extremities. The rates of 5 year survival among the patients with malignant tumors of the extremity soft tissues subjected to sparing operations were found to be higher after combined program of treatment (operation + radiation therapy).