Soft Tissue Sarcoma in Sub-Saharan Africa: Surgical Management Outcomes, Gaps, and Future Prospects: A Narrative Review.

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: The diagnosis and management of soft tissue sarcoma (STS) in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) present significant challenges. Positive outcomes in STS treatment include achieving negative margins, improved quality of life, and reduced recurrence rates, while negative outcomes involve incomplete resection, local recurrence, and surgical complications. This review aims to examine the current state of STS management in SSA, identify key challenges, and propose potential solutions to improve patient outcomes. METHODS: A comprehensive review of the literature using PubMed/MEDLINE, Google Scholar, and Scopus, focusing on English-language studies examining the management of STS in SSA. Inclusion criteria centered on studies reporting on surgical interventions, outcomes, and healthcare challenges in the region. Articles lacking sufficient data, non-English sources, conference abstracts, and duplicates were excluded. RESULTS: Findings highlight several obstacles in the management of STS in SSA, including limited multidisciplinary teams, inadequate healthcare infrastructure, financial constraints, and lack of standardized treatment protocols. Key themes such as diagnostic capacity and resource allocation were identified as significant barriers. CONCLUSION: Improving STS outcomes in SSA requires investment in healthcare infrastructure, professional development, enhanced funding, and collaborative research. Addressing these gaps is crucial to achieving better surgical management and improving survival rates for patients with STS in SSA.