Pediatric soft tissue sarcomas.
Many of the soft tissue sarcomas that occur in children are of the same histology as those in adults; however, the relative prevalence of these sarcomas is different between children and adults. In some cases, the biologic behavior of pediatric sarcomas is more benign than that in adults. Treatment for sarcomas in children is also different. Pediatric sarcomas are more commonly responsive to chemotherapy. Furthermore, in children who are still growing, surgery and radiation are associated with higher morbidity than in adults. This article discusses the diagnosis and treatment of rhabdomyosarcoma and undifferentiated sarcomas, with an emphasis on surgical considerations, and the diagnosis and treatment of nonrhabdomyosarcomatous soft tissue sarcomas in children.
Herzog
Cynthia E
CE
Division of Pediatrics, University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center, 1515 Holcombe Boulevard, Box 87, Houston, TX 77030, USA. cherzog@mdanderson.org
Stewart
John M
JM
Blakely
Martin L
ML
D002648:Child; D002986:Clinical Trials as Topic; D006801:Humans; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery