Monitoring
Patients treated curatively are followed up every 3-4 months for 2-3 years, then every 6 months until 5 years have elapsed years, and yearly thereafter. Surveillance after 10 years is determined on a case-by-case basis.
Follow-up includes history and examination; FBC and urea and serum electrolytes; and LFTs. CT scan of the chest and either CT or MRI of the affected part is the standard of care. A prospective randomised study in mostly bone sarcomas found chest x-rays to be non-inferior to CT in screening for pulmonary metastases. The study intervals comparing imaging every 6 months versus imaging every 3 months could not verify non-inferiority.[96] Further studies are needed to determine optimal surveillance in soft-tissue sarcoma.
PET/CT may be helpful in monitoring treatment response.[97]
Follow-up of patients with advanced disease is based on clinical need.
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