Sarcomas are rare tumors.
Soft tissue sarcomas (STS):
The overall incidence of soft tissue sarcomas in children and adolescents in North America is roughly 7.4%.
Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS):
- Most common soft tissue sarcoma in children (40% of all pediatric STS)
- Incidence is roughly 4.3 cases per million in children less than 20 years old in North America.
- Roughly 5% of all childhood and adolescent cancers.
- In Canada between 2001 and 2005, 119 children between the ages of 0 and 14 were diagnosed with RMS.
Non-rhadomyosarcomas (non-RMS or NRMS):
- Constitute only 4% of all childhood cancers
- Affects roughly 500 children less than 20 years of age in North America per year.
Bone sarcomas:
In Canada between 2001 and 2005, 181 children between the ages of 0 and 14 were diagnosed with malignant bone tumors.
Osteogenic sarcoma:
- Incidence is roughly 8.7 cases per million children and adolescents (less than 20 years old)
- Commonest bone tumor in children and adolescents.
Ewing sarcoma:
- Next most common tumor after osteogenic sarcoma.
- Incidence is roughly 2.9 per million children and adolescents (less than 20 years old).
