Ewing Sarcoma is a rare form of cancer discovered by James Ewing in 1921. This type of malignancy is common in older children and young adults, ranging in age from 10-20 years old. In most instances, the location of origin for this form of cancer often starts in the bone or muscle tissue.
Different Types of Ewing Sarcoma
The different types of Ewing Sarcoma are classified as:
Ewing Sarcoma of Soft Tissue
Ewing Sarcoma of the Bone
Primitive Neuroectodermal Tumor (PNET), which involves both bone and soft tissue
Askin’s Tumor is a type of tumor that affects bones in the chest cavity.
How Does A Person Develop Ewing Sarcoma?
The etiology of this form of cancer is unknown. One of the characteristics that makes this condition different from other cancers is that it's not a mutation of multiple cells within an area of the body. Ewing sarcoma develops from a nonhereditary abnormality of the 11th and 22nd chromosomes presenting later in life. Younger children diagnosed with Fanconi Anemia, (when the bone marrow doesn’t produce enough blood cells or platelets) may also be at higher risk.
What Are The Typical Signs and Symptoms of Ewing Sarcoma?
A few of the early symptoms that may be present with this condition might be:
A fever with an unknown cause.
Bones that are brittle and break easily with regular activity and little to no involvement of trauma.
A lump or increased swelling at the site that may or may not be painful.
How is Ewing Sarcoma Diagnosed?
On average, it takes nearly 2-5 months from the noticeable onset of symptoms for a diagnosis to be rendered. One of the most effective methods of diagnosis is a bone biopsy and aspiration of the marrow. Blood, marrow, and tissue are examined under a microscope. These tests let examiners know how advanced the disease has become. Several diagnostic tests can also determine how widespread the cancer may become, affecting the overall prognosis.
What other methods of testing are used? MRI, CT Scans, PET Scans, Bone Scans, X-rays, and blood panel testing are also used to explore the level of metastasis. Once the physician can measure growth in cancer cells, treatment planning begins. With proper and timely treatment, the prognosis has increased by 70%.
How is Ewing Sarcoma Treated?
Depending on the severity of the metastasis, several treatment options are considered. The following options are chemotherapy, immunotherapy, surgery, and radiation therapy. Several factors are considered when determining the prognosis, such as age, location, and size of tumors. Another major factor is if the person has been treated for any other types of cancers, and the ability to tolerate treatments.
Long Term Treatment
Different physicians specializing in oncology, orthopedics, surgery, pain management, physical therapy, wound care, and possibly pediatrics, may be consulted for the long-term management of patients with Ewing Sarcoma. Multiple blood diagnostics and radiology testing can give a clear insight into how effective a current treatment regimen is. Strengthening and conditioning may be required to help the patient regain the ability to ambulate without using any assistive devices, such as canes, walkers, or wheelchairs.
References:
Ewing’s Sarcoma - OrthoInfo - AAOS. OrthoInfo - Patient Education | AAOS. Accessed September 24, 2024. https://orthoinfo.aaos.org/en/diseases--conditions/ewings-sarcoma/
Ewing Sarcoma Treatment (PDQ®) - NCI. Comprehensive Cancer Information - NCI. Accessed September 24, 2024. https://www.cancer.gov/types/bone/hp/ewing-treatment-pdq
Durer S. Ewing Sarcoma - StatPearls - NCBI Bookshelf. National Center for Biotechnology Information. Accessed September 24, 2024. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK559183/
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