Malignant Pediatric Soft Tissue & Bone Tumors of the Extremities: A Retrospective Study

Background:

Sarcomas are a heterogeneous group of rare tumors that arise predominantly from the embryonic mesoderm. The various sarcomas include bone sarcomas (osteosarcomas and chondrosarcomas), Ewing's sarcomas, peripheral primitive neuroectodermal tumors, and soft tissue sarcomas.

Soft tissue sarcomas account for approximately 1% of adult malignancies and 7% to 15% of pediatric malignancies. Rhabdomyosarcoma is the most common soft tissue sarcoma of childhood.

There is some confusion within segments of the medical community as to the precise meaning of "soft tissue." The soft tissue of the human body includes all extraskeletal tissue that is neither epithelial, hematopoietic (marrow derived blood elements), nor parenchymal (constituent of a visceral organ). The nervous system is divided such that neither the glial nor the central neuronal elements are considered to be soft tissue, though by convention the peripheral nervous system is. In sum, the soft tissues consist of adipose tissue, fibrous tissue, musculature, vascular structures, and peripheral nerves.

About 50% to 60% of sarcomas occur in the extremities, and although they are rare, they are responsible for more deaths than testicular cancer, Hodgkin's disease, and thyroid cancer combined.