Sarkoma Juinga – Bone tumors

Description of Ewing's sarcoma

Саркома Юинга – злокачественная опухоль костей, which may occur in any bone in the body, as well as in the soft tissue (vnekostnaya sarcoma). Typically, the affected areas include the pelvis, hip, shin, shoulder and chest wall.

Cancer often strikes children and young adults. During puberty, Ewing's sarcoma occurs in both boys, and girls. After puberty, the cancer is more common in men.

Ewing's sarcoma occurs in approximately one in every 50,000 Adolescents, accounting for about 30% of all cases of bone cancer, which occurs in children. The prognosis depends on the location of the tumor and its spread to other areas of the body.

Causes of Ewing's sarcoma

The causes of Ewing's sarcoma are not fully understood. Some potential factors include:

• Eversporting displacement, which alters genes;
• Injury or fractures;
• Irradiation with high doses of radiation.

Risk Factors for Ewing's sarcoma

Since the causes of cancer are unknown, Risk factors are also not fully understood. Prospective factors, that may increase the risk of Ewing's sarcoma:

• The presence of congenital;
• The presence of other malignancies, and especially its treatment with radiotherapy.

Other factors:

• Ewing's sarcoma is not an inherited disease. The presence of family members, who have cancer does not increase the likelihood of developing the disease;
• Race: People of African-American or Asian descent have a significantly lower risk of developing Ewing's sarcoma, than white;
• Возраст – опухоль чаще встречается среди подростков;
• Пол – опухоль чаще встречается среди мужчин.

Symptoms of Ewing's sarcoma

Symptoms include:

• Pain, redness and swelling of the tissue surrounding the tumor;
• Fever;
• Weight loss and reduced appetite;
• Fatigue;
• Paralysis and incontinence (in cases, when the tumor is near the spinal cord);
• Numbness, tingling and paralysis (by compression of nerves in the tumor);
• Shortness of breath, if the tumor is located in the chest.

Diagnosis of Ewing's sarcoma

The doctor will ask about your symptoms and medical history, and perform a physical exam. Sometimes the inspection will be conducted by a team of doctors, which may include an oncologist (doctor, specializing in cancer), orthopedic surgeon (doctor, who specializes in diseases of bones), and a radiation oncologist (doctor, that works with radiation therapy devices, designed to kill cancer cells).

Tests may include the following:

• Сканирование костей – чтобы обнаружить наличие опухоли;
• Компьютерная томография – вид рентгена, which uses computer, to find cancer, that has spread to the lungs;
• МРТ – тест, which uses magnetic waves, to make pictures of structures inside the body;
• ПЭТ КТ – для оценки метаболической активности тканей;
• Анализы крови – для определения отклонений в составе крови;
• Biopsy - to determine, whether the tumor is malignant.

Treatment of Ewing's sarcoma

The treatment combines the use of chemotherapy, Surgery and radiation therapy. Usually, the patient is first prescribed chemotherapy (during 8-12 weeks), after a CT scan or MRI to assess tumor. Depending on the size of the tumor and its location, assigned any further operation to remove it, or radiotherapy. Then chemotherapy resumes, and continues for several months after surgery or radiation.

Chemotherapy for the treatment of Ewing's sarcoma

Препараты химиотерапии используются для уничтожения опухолевых клеток. Preparations, used for the treatment of Ewing's sarcoma: vynkrystyn, dactinomycine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, ifosfamide and etoposide. Doctor will prescribe a combination of these medications, to be taken at a set time, usually every 2-4 week for several months.

The operation for the treatment of Ewing's sarcoma

The operation may be carried out to remove the tumor, as well as for the restoration of the affected bone. В зависимости от расположения опухоли могут быть необходимы костный трансплантат или протезы. There are special types of prostheses, that expand as the bone growth. Sometimes you need a few additional operations, limb to function properly.

Radiation therapy in the treatment of Ewing's sarcoma

Радиационная терапия использует высокоэнергетический рентген, to kill tumor cells. It can be used in conjunction with surgery or instead of surgery. Irradiation is usually carried out within a few weeks and is accompanied by a subsequent cycle of chemotherapy.

Promising treatment of Ewing's sarcoma

В настоящее время в некоторых онкологических центрах исследуется комбинация высоких доз препаратов для химиотерапии и трансплантация стволовых клеток. This combination therapy is typically used in cases, when the tumor is very resistant.

Also actively investigated target chemotherapy, aimed at rebuilding genes and reducing Ewing sarcoma.

Prevention Ewing's sarcoma

The causes of Ewing's sarcoma is unknown. Currently, there are no preventive measures to reduce the risk of developing this type of cancer.