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Sarcomas are defined as a group of mesenchymal malignancies with over 100 heterogeneous subtypes. As a rare and difficult to diagnose entity, micrometastasis is already present at the time of diagnosis in many cases. Current treatment practice of sarcomas consists mainly of surgery, (neo)adjuvant chemo- and/or radiotherapy. Although the past decade has shown that particular genetic abnormalities can promote the development of sarcomas, such as translocations, gain-of-function mutations, amplifications or tumor suppressor gene losses, these insights have not led to established alternative treatment strategies so far. Novel therapeutic concepts with immunotherapy at its forefront have experienced some remarkable success in different solid tumors while their impact in sarcoma remains limited. In this review, the most common immunotherapy strategies in sarcomas, such as immune checkpoint inhibitors, targeted therapy and cytokine therapy are concisely discussed. The programmed cell death (PD)-1/PD-1L axis and apoptosis-inducing cytokines, such as TNF-related apoptosis-inducing ligand (TRAIL), have not yielded the same success like in other solid tumors. However, in certain sarcoma subtypes, e.g. liposarcoma or undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma, encouraging results in some cases when employing immune checkpoint inhibitors in combination with other treatment options were found. Moreover, newer strategies such as the targeted therapy against the ancient cytokine macrophage migration inhibitory factor (MIF) may represent an interesting approach worth investigation in the future.

Extradigital localizations of glomus tumors (GTs) remain rare and can often lead to missed or delayed diagnosis due to nonspecific symptoms. In this article, we report a case of a GT with a rare lo...

RATIONALE Degloving foot injuries are challenging to treat and associated with life-long sequelae for patients. An appropriate debridement of ischemic soft tissues with maximal preservation of glabrous skin is key during the reconstruction of these injuries. Indocyanine green (ICG) fluorescence angiography is an established technique for the intraoperative evaluation of tissue perfusion. PATIENT CONCERNS Two patients sustained complex foot injuries in traffic accidents, including multiple fracture dislocations and extensive degloving of the plantar skin. DIAGNOSIS Clinical inspection revealed significant degloving of the glabrous skin in both patients. INTERVENTIONS After fracture fixation, ICG fluorescence angiography-assisted debridement with immediate latissimus dorsi free flap reconstruction was performed. OUTCOMES In both cases, this technique allowed a precise debridement with maximal preservation of the glabrous skin. The healing of the remaining glabrous skin was uneventful and the 6-month follow-up was characterized by stable soft tissues and satisfying ambulation. LESSONS ICG fluorescence angiography is a safe, user-friendly, and quick procedure with minimal risks, expanding the armamentarium of the reconstructive surgeon. It is highly useful for the debridement of extensive plantar degloving injuries and may also help to minimize the number of procedures and the risk of infection.

An 85-year-old male was hospitalized because of deterioration of his general condition and infection of the tracheostoma. He had had laryngectomy, bilateral neck dissection and radiation therapy for a laryngeal carcinoma 5 years earlier. Despite a good recovery, he could not get up because of a new onset of postural symptoms (dizziness, lightheadedness, collapse). Late onset of baroreflex failure and autonomic nervous system failure were diagnosed. Volatility of blood pressure (supine hypertension, upright hypotension) was treated with NaCl supplement during the day and a short-acting antihypertensive (clonidine) at night. With this regimen, the patient could walk without support.