Journal of the American College of Surgeons
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Multicenter Study
Identifying the Minimum Volume Threshold for Retroperitoneal Soft Tissue Sarcoma Resection: Merging National Data with Consensus Expert Opinion.
The complexity of retroperitoneal soft tissue sarcoma (RPS) surgery has prompted international recommendations to regionalize it to high-volume hospitals (HVHs). A minimum procedural volume threshold for RPS is not yet defined, hampering effective referral and regionalization in the US. This multihospital study sought to establish an HVH threshold informed by national data and international expert opinion. ⋯ This is the first multicenter analysis to merge data-driven RPS surgery volume thresholds to clinically meaningful sarcoma expert opinions. These findings will help inform national/international consensus recommendations, a practical volume threshold, trial design, and motivate evidence-based hospital referral.