Ewing’s Sarcoma

Ewing’s sarcoma is extremely malignant. By the time it is discovered, metastasis has already occurred in 90 per cent of children. The favourite site is the thigh bone (femur), also the pelvic bones and shoulder. It occurs most frequently between the ages of five and sixteen. The first symptom is usually a painful swelling of the bone. The diagnosis is, as always, confirmed by a biopsy.

Treatment

The treatment consists of radiotherapy and chemotherapy. Radiation is used to remove the tumour locally at its original site and chemotherapy is employed to treat the metastases present in most children. Without it, up to 85 per cent of children have a recurrence at a distant site, mainly in the lungs, liver and other bones.