Ewing's Sarcoma
Ewing's Sarcoma
Ewing's Sarcoma
Definition
Ewing’s sarcoma is a small round-cell tumor
typically arising in the bones, rarely in soft
tissues, of children and adolescents.
Epidemiology
Primary bone tumors account for 5% of all
cancers in childhood and Ewing sarcoma is the
second most common bone tumor in this age
group. The incidence of ESFT in the US
between 1973 and 2004 was estimated to be
approximately 3 per 1,000,000.
Etiology
The cause of Ewing sarcoma is largely unknown.
Therefore, there is no known way of
preventing this cancer.
There is a known relationship between periods
of rapid bone growth in adolescents and the
development of primary bone cancers such as
Ewing sarcoma and osteosarcoma.
Risk Factor
• Race/ethnicity
Ewing tumors are rare overall, but they are much more common among
whites (either non-Hispanic or Hispanic) than among Asian Americans or
African Americans. The reason for this is not known.
• Gender
These cancers are slightly more common in males than in females.
• Age
Ewing tumors can occur at any age, but they are most common in teens and
are less common among young adults and young children. They are rare in
older adults.