title: Sarcoma and the spinal column.
abstract: Primary sarcomas are rare in the spine. Common primary sarcomas include osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, chondrosarcomas, and retroperitoneal soft-tissue sarcomas. These tumors tend to occur in adolescents and young adults. Surgery remains the mainstay of treatment, although the anatomy of spine and spinal cord often limits complete surgical resection with a wide margin. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy have variable effects on these tumors. With recent advances in surgical techniques and development of new chemotherapy protocols, survival and local control are both improving.
authors.affiliation: Department of Neurological Surgery, University of California, 505 Parnassus Avenue, Room M779, San Francisco, CA 94143-0112, USA.
authors.forename: Vincent Y
authors.initials: VY
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Matt
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Potts
authors.forename: Dean
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Chou
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D004358:Drug Therapy / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures / Q000379:methods; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D011878:Radiotherapy / Q000379:methods; D012509:Sarcoma / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D012512:Sarcoma, Ewing / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy; D013125:Spinal Neoplasms / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000473:pathology* / Q000628:therapy*; D013131:Spine / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery