Understanding Ewing Sarcoma: Causes, Symptoms, and Management

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Ewing Sarcoma

by Alike Medical Team ∙ Updated on June 13, 2023

Additional names

This group contains additional names: - Adamantinoma of long bone - Articular cartilage cancer - Bone and cartilage cancer - Chondrosarcoma - Diaphyseal medullary stenosis with bone malignancy - Extraskeletal osteosarcoma - Osteitis deformans

General

Ewing Sarcoma is a rare tumor of the bones and soft tissue around the bones such as cartilage or nerves. The typical bones for growth of the tumor are the leg and pelvis but it can occur in any bone. This condition is more common in children and adolescents, and in Europeans. The cause of Ewing sarcoma is still unknown, and it does seem to be genetic or familial. Environmental factors were not found to be linked with Ewing sarcoma.Ewing sarcoma may spread, most often to other bones and the lungs. Recently, there had been a division of Ewing sarcoma to four types of cancer: Ewing's sarcoma of bone, Ewing's sarcoma of soft tissue, primitive neuroectodermal tumor (PNET) which may occur in both bone and soft tissue, and Askin's tumor, a PNET that occurs in the bones of the chest.

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Signs & symptoms

Symptoms may include pain, swelling in the affected area, fatigue, fever without a known source and weight loss.

Diagnosis

Diagnosis is made based on the symptoms and physical examination alongside imaging tests such as an X-ray, CT, MRI, PET and bone scan. Then, a biopsy may be taken with a needle or in a surgical biopsy. The tissue may be sent for a genetic test to determine which DNA changes are present in the cells. Ewing sarcoma cells usually have changes in the EWSR1 gene.

Treatment

Treatment for Ewing sarcoma often begins with chemotherapy, followed by surgery to remove the tumor. After the surgery, it is sometimes necessary to keep with chemotherapy and/or start radiation therapy.

Note

☝ We provide information on prescription and over-the-counter medicines, diagnosis, procedures and lab tests. This material is provided for educational purposes only and is not medical advice, diagnosis or treatment.

National Institutes of Health ∙ World Health Organization ∙ MedlinePluse ∙ Centers for Disease Control and Prevention

☝ All information has been reviewed by certified physicians from Alike

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