Abstract

Thirty-five cases of clear cell sarcoma of soft tissues were studied to determine the clinical or morphologic features that are important in predicting prognosis. Tumors occurred most commonly in the extremities, and the majority of the patients were young women. Surgery was the elected treatment in every case. Five patients experienced local recurrences, and metastases developed in 22. Fifty-four percent of the patients died of tumor, 11% are alive with disease, and the remaining 34% are alive and well; the average survival for each group was 67 months, 113 months, and 103.5 months, respectively. This sarcoma is characterized by small clusters of polygonal to spindle cells featuring clear to slightly basophilic cytoplasm and vesicular nuclei with prominent nucleoli. The clusters are separated by delicate fibrous septa. In a deletion, clear cell sarcoma has low mitotic activity, little or no necrosis, and mild nuclear pleomorphism. Tumor size and the presence of necrosis are statistically significant predictors of prognosis. All 12 patients with tumors measuring > 5 cm died of disease or are alive with disease. Eleven of the 20 patients with tumors measuring < 5 cm are alive with no evidence of disease. Tumor necrosis was present in 10 cases; eight of these patients died of disease and one is alive with disseminated metastases.