Retroperitoneal sarcomas
Liposarcomas, leiomyosarcomas and other sarcomas of the retroperitoneum.
Reviewed by Prof. Luis González Bayón · Updated: April 30, 2026
Specialty
Sarcomas
At Quenet-Torrent Institute we treat abdominal and retroperitoneal sarcomas with high-complexity oncological surgery, multivisceral resections and a multidisciplinary team with expertise in these uncommon tumors.
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Clinical summary
Abdominal and retroperitoneal sarcomas require multivisceral surgery at expert centers, given the risk of local recurrence with incomplete resections. At Quenet-Torrent Institute (Teknon Barcelona · Memorial Publio Cordón Madrid), Prof. Luis González Bayón coordinates, together with Dr. Quenet and Dr. Torrent, a specialized team with experience in compartmental resections.
What are sarcomas?
Sarcomas are malignant tumors that arise in mesenchymal tissues: muscle, fat, blood vessels, nerves and connective tissue. They account for less than 1% of all cancers in adults, but their treatment requires a specialized team.
Retroperitoneal and abdominal sarcomas are particularly difficult to treat because of their deep location, their often large size at diagnosis and their relationship with vital structures.
Surgery is the mainstay of treatment. Complete resection with adequate margins is the most important prognostic factor and often requires multivisceral resections.
Symptoms of sarcomas
The most common symptom of a sarcoma is a lump or mass that grows progressively. In many cases, especially at first, the lump is painless, which can delay seeing a doctor. When the tumor reaches a sufficient size or presses on nerves and nearby structures, pain, swelling and loss of function appear.
Deep sarcomas, such as retroperitoneal or abdominal ones, can go unnoticed for months because they grow in large spaces without causing obvious symptoms. When they do cause symptoms, these tend to appear late: early satiety, abdominal swelling or vague discomfort from pressure on nearby organs. With any mass that keeps growing or persistent abdominal symptoms without a clear cause, it is important to see a specialist without delay.
Causes and risk factors of sarcomas
In the vast majority of cases there is no identifiable cause. Sarcomas arise from genetic changes in mesenchymal tissue cells that trigger uncontrolled growth, but these changes usually occur spontaneously, without any known external trigger.
There are, however, factors that increase the risk of developing a sarcoma. Among the most studied are previous radiotherapy to the affected area, certain hereditary genetic syndromes (neurofibromatosis type 1, Li-Fraumeni syndrome and hereditary retinoblastoma), long-standing chronic lymphedema and prolonged exposure to certain industrial chemicals. Since none of these factors is identified in most cases, sarcomas are generally not preventable, and early detection depends mainly on watching for warning symptoms.
Types of sarcoma we treat
Our unit treats the different types of abdominal and retroperitoneal sarcoma.
GIST (gastrointestinal stromal tumors)
Sarcomas that arise in the wall of the digestive tract.
Visceral sarcomas
Sarcomas that arise in abdominal organs.
Abdominal desmoid tumors
Locally aggressive fibromatous tumors.
Why ask for a second opinion on sarcomas?
Sarcomas are uncommon tumors that need to be managed at specialized centers.
Confirm the histological diagnosis
Review the pathology with pathologists who are experts in sarcomas.
Assess resectability
Confirm whether the tumor can be completely resected.
Evaluate neoadjuvant treatment
Consider preoperative chemotherapy or radiotherapy in selected cases.
Plan a multivisceral resection
Determine which organs need to be removed en bloc.
The experience of the surgical team has a strong influence on the result.
How do we treat sarcomas?
Surgical treatment is the basis of sarcoma treatment.
Compartmental resection
Removal of the tumor with wide margins, including anatomical compartments.
Multivisceral resection
En bloc removal of the tumor with the adjacent organs involved.
Vascular resections
Resection and reconstruction of large vessels when necessary.
Surgery for recurrences
Reoperations for local recurrences in selected cases.
The strategy is tailored to histological type, location and extent.
Our technology
Technology for sarcoma surgery
These are the tools we use to plan and perform the surgery.
High-resolution CT and MRI
Detailed planning of tumor extent and its relationship with surrounding structures.
PET-CT
Staging and assessment of response to neoadjuvant treatment.
3D reconstruction
Virtual planning of the surgery.
Advanced vascular surgery
Techniques for reconstructing large vessels.
WHY CHOOSE US?
Experience in sarcoma surgery
Quenet-Torrent Institute treats sarcomas with teams specialized in complex mesenchymal tumors.
Experience in complex cases
We focus on advanced cancer and complex tumors, with techniques such as multivisceral resection or reconstruction of large vessels, which not every center offers.
Comprehensive, multidisciplinary approach
Surgeons, oncologists, radiologists, nutritionists and psychologists review your case together.
Research
We follow the published scientific evidence and review our protocols when new data appear.
Surgical technology
We have high-resolution CT and MRI, PET-CT and 3D reconstruction to plan surgery with precision.
Personal, close care
We explain each step of the treatment and answer your questions throughout the process.
Conditions related to sarcomas
Specialized treatment for the different types of abdominal sarcoma.
Abdominal sarcomas
Liposarcomas, leiomyosarcomas and other sarcomas of the retroperitoneum and abdomen.
More information about abdominal sarcomasProcedures for sarcomas
High-complexity surgical techniques for treating abdominal sarcomas.
Oncological surgery with vascular reconstruction
Resection and reconstruction of large vessels in tumors that involve them.
More information about oncological surgery with vascular reconstructionComplex oncological resections
High-complexity surgery with multivisceral resections when necessary.
More information about complex oncological resections
Our team
Sarcoma specialists
Surgeons and oncologists on the team who treat abdominal and retroperitoneal sarcomas.
Dr. François Quenet
Oncological surgeon
View doctor: Dr. François Quenet"Surgeon with expertise in gastrointestinal and hepatobiliary tumors and in highly difficult operations."
Dr. Juan José Torrent
Oncological surgeon
View doctor: Dr. Juan José Torrent"Specialist in gynecological tumors, peritoneal carcinomatosis and complex oncological surgery."
Prof. Luis González Bayón
Peritoneal oncological surgeon
View doctor: Prof. Luis González BayónProfessor of Surgical Pathology at the Complutense University of Madrid and Head of the Peritoneum, Retroperitoneum and Complex Pelvis Unit at Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón. He works in peritoneal oncological surgery, HIPEC and exenterations for complex pelvic tumors.
Dr. Pablo Lozano Lominchar
Oncological surgeon
View doctor: Dr. Pablo Lozano LomincharSurgeon in the peritoneal carcinomatosis section and the sarcoma CSUR (national reference unit) of Hospital General Universitario Gregorio Marañón, and Associate Professor of Surgical Pathology at the Complutense University of Madrid. Trained at Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center in New York. He researches retroperitoneal sarcomas and tumors of mesenchymal origin (GIST, desmoid fibromatosis, schwannoma).
Dr. Clara Montagut
Medical oncologist
View doctorHead of the Gastrointestinal Cancer Section at Hospital del Mar and deputy director of the Hospital del Mar Research Institute. She works in precision medicine and biomarkers and coordinates systemic treatment with the surgical strategy.
Frequently asked questions about sarcomas
Answers to the most common questions about diagnosis, treatment and prognosis.
Can a sarcoma be cured?
Yes, especially when a complete resection is achieved in the first operation. In sarcomas, the quality of that first operation affects the prognosis more than any later treatment, and it depends directly on the experience of the team performing it.
Why is it important to be operated on at a specialized center?
Because these are uncommon tumors and most hospitals see very few cases. The surgeon's experience and a multidisciplinary approach clearly improve results, and it is documented that patients operated on at reference centers have better local control and longer survival.
Why do several organs sometimes have to be removed?
Because retroperitoneal sarcomas grow by displacing and infiltrating nearby structures, and it is not always possible to see where the tumor ends. Removing the sarcoma en bloc together with the organs it touches is what allows clear margins to be obtained and reduces the risk of recurrence.
Is chemotherapy useful in sarcomas?
It depends entirely on the histological subtype. Some sarcomas respond well to chemotherapy and others are practically insensitive, so there is no single regimen. GISTs are a separate case: they respond to targeted therapies such as imatinib, not to conventional chemotherapy.
How long does recovery take?
It depends on the extent of the surgery and how many organs had to be resected. The hospital stay is usually 7 to 14 days and full recovery takes between 2 and 3 months. Enhanced recovery protocols, with early mobilization and nutrition, shorten that process.
Can sarcomas come back?
Yes, local recurrence is common, especially in well-differentiated liposarcomas, and it can appear years after surgery. That is why imaging follow-up continues over the long term: if detected early, the recurrence can again be operated on with curative intent.
Can recurrences be operated on again?
In many cases, yes. Salvage surgery can be curative for local recurrences, although each reoperation is technically more demanding than the previous one because of adhesions and anatomical changes. The assessment should be made at a center with specific experience in sarcomas.
Where can I receive this treatment safely?
At centers with proven experience in sarcomas and a dedicated multidisciplinary board. It is worth asking how many cases the team treats each year and whether it has pathologists experienced in these tumors, because the diagnosis of the subtype determines the whole treatment and is not easy to establish.
Where to treat sarcoma?
We operate in two private hospitals in Spain. The same medical team treats you in Madrid and in Barcelona, with the same surgical and oncological protocols.
Madrid
Memorial Publio Cordón Hospital
Private hospital in Pozuelo de Alarcón with a multidisciplinary team specialised in digestive surgical oncology.
View Memorial Publio Cordón Hospital
Barcelona
Centro Médico Teknon
Private hospital in Barcelona where the team performs high-complexity surgical oncology.
View Centro Médico Teknon
Real cases
Patients treated by the Quenet Torrent team
Real testimonies from patients treated by our team in high-complexity surgical oncology.
Debra's case
66-year-old English woman with advanced ovarian cancer and peritoneal metastases. Treated with cytoreduction + HIPEC, she is now disease-free.
Read the full caseRosario (Charo)'s case
73-year-old patient with advanced cancer treated with chemotherapy and high-complexity surgical oncology, with good survival and quality of life.
Read the full caseFelipe's case
A mistaken diagnosis of terminal colon cancer that a second opinion revealed to be pseudomyxoma peritonei, treatable with cytoreductive surgery and HIPEC.
Read the full caseSantiago's case
Diagnosed with widespread peritoneal carcinomatosis and considered inoperable. After complete cytoreduction with HIPEC, today his is a story of survival.
Read the full case
Verified reviews
See on Google
4.5/5
What our patients say
L
4 weeks ago
5/5
Wonderful surgical team, among the best out there. Dr. Torrent (expert in peritoneal carcinomatosis) is an exceptional surgeon and an even better person. His coordinator is super kind, fast and efficient. The personal care is excellent and so are the results. This is of vital importance for cancer patients.
K
5 months ago
5/5
In the public healthcare system they gave my father a maximum of one year to live. They only offered him chemo and no hope, said it was impossible, that nothing could be done. He had several tumors inside the peritoneal sac with metastases. A year and a half later he is clean, completely cured. His latest PET scan came back clean. We are very happy. Thanks to Dr. Torrent and his team. THANK YOU.
M
A year ago
5/5
Excellent professionals, especially Dr. Torrent, attentive at all times to the patient (my wife), operated for peritoneal pseudomyxoma. They helped us with all our needs since we came from outside Barcelona. Thank you Elisabeth. We are very grateful to Quenet Torrent Institute, thank you for everything.
P
2 years ago
5/5
I am a 63-year-old patient. They detected adrenal gland cancer and told me there was nothing to be done. I sought a second opinion and they told me about the Quenet Torrent team, specialists in complex operations. Dr. Torrent, from the first moment, told me they could operate. They operated and removed a large tumor mass. I spent a week in the ICU and a month on the ward. Every day he came morning and evening, no matter Saturday or Sunday. Never throw in the towel. I am happy to have found these professionals who gave me my life back. Thank you.
I
3 years ago
5/5
Many thanks for your attention. Dr. Torrent always attentive, involved and decisive. The reception staff very pleasant and always offering the best option. 100% RECOMMENDED. THANK YOU.
M
5 years ago
5/5
Dr. Torrent helped me make the best decision at a difficult moment. I think he is a great professional and a person capable of accompanying you and putting himself in another's shoes. Thank you for everything.
F
6 years ago
5/5
I have peritoneal carcinomatosis. When I sent my diagnosis to every center, practically all of them agreed on palliative chemo with little survival time, since I had a very aggressive type of cell. Until we reached Dr. Quenet, Dr. Torrent and their team. I can only confirm what their CV announces: they are far ahead of the rest. They saved my life, because during the operation the harmful cells that everyone had diagnosed, and that were the reason nobody would operate on me, were not there. This intervention has become the best investment of my life.
M
6 years ago
5/5
The best decision of my life was finding this excellent team of surgeons who saved my husband's life. At a prestigious international clinic in Madrid he was given up for lost with advanced peritoneal carcinomatosis from appendiceal cancer, and thanks to them, the best professionals in this field, he was operated on very successfully. A perfect recovery with no complications, because they were on top of his progress at all times. They have a great quality: from the start they were very honest and close. I can only be deeply grateful; we went to buy time and thanks to them my husband got his life back.
E
7 years ago
5/5
Dr. Torrent is a brilliant surgeon and a very approachable and warm doctor, whose manner reveals all the qualities that make him a great person and professional: perseverance, innate curiosity and a desire to learn, humility, sincerity and empathy. Going through an operation is undoubtedly an intense experience, physically and emotionally, in which anxieties arise and you feel very vulnerable. All of that is normal, and as his former patient I can say that his care and professionalism throughout the process were absolutely exceptional. I felt very supported by him, with the confidence of knowing I was in the best hands. I will always be grateful to him. Moltes gràcies Dr. Torrent!
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