Evaluation of forequarter amputation in malignant diseases.

Twenty-one forequarter amputations were performed at our institute during a 15 year period for soft tissue sarcoma, osteosarcoma, recurrent malignant melanoma and epidermoid carcinoma. Two patients in this group who have had recurrent carcinoma of the breast with a painful, edematous and ulcerated upper extremity were palliated and had significant relief. The over-all five year survival rate following this procedure for curative intent was 25 per cent. There were no five year survivors of unclassified sarcoma, myosarcoma and recurrent malignant melanoma. Thus, we do not recommend this procedure for recurrent malignant melanoma, although it can be performed as a palliative measure. Since most of the patients with malignant bone tumors, unclassified sarcoma and myosarcoma have systemic metastasis develop within two to eight months after this procedure, new methods should be explored to detect early metastasis before undertaking this psychologically traumatic procedure. Adjuvant chemotherapy and other modalities of adjuvant therapies are recommended in this group with poor prognosis. A local recurrence after this amputation in patients with unclassified lesions and myosarcoma should be considered as an indication of systemic metastasis.