Sarcomasdown arrow

Home > Disclaimer > Ewings Sarcoma

 

General sarcoma

 

 

Introduction

 

 

Sarcomas are malignant tumors of mesenchymal origin.

Mesenchyme = embryonic connective tissue derived from the mesoderm.

The mesoderm differentiates into hematopoietic and connective tissue.

Sarcomas arise from the skeleton and "supporting structures":

  • Muscle
    • Skeletal (voluntary muscle)
    • Smooth (involuntary muscle)
  • Fibrous tissue
  • Bone
  • Cartilage
  • Fat

There are many different types of sarcomas with a broad range of histological appearances, differentiation and clinical behaviors.

Sarcomas can be classified in terms of their location:

  • Soft tissue
  • Bone/joint

 

Soft tissue Sarcomas (STS) :

Childhood muscle sarcomas are broadly grouped as:

  • Rhabdomyosarcoma (RMS)
  • Non-rhabdomyosarcoma soft tissue sarcoma (NRMS, Non-RMS or NRMSTS)

 

Rhabdomyosarcomas (RMS) are thought to arise from immature mesenchymal cells that should normally be involved in the development of skeletal muscle. But RMS can be found in areas where one would not expect to find striated muscle.

In Canada, between 2000 and 2004, rhabdomyosarcoma had a 5 year OSP (Observed Survival Proportions) for children between 0 and 14 years of 80%.

Non-Rhabdomyosarcoma tumors (Non-RMS) include:

 

Bone Sarcomas:

The most common bone tumors in children are:

In Canada between 2000 and 2004 bone sarcomas had one of the lowest 5 year OSP (Observed Survival Proportions) of any childhood cancer diagnosed between 0 and 14 years.   It was 66%.

  

 

 

Back to top

Next