Executive Summary
The stages of Ewing sarcoma help determine the tumor’s location and metastasis. The staging system of Ewing sarcoma uses diagnostic tests. A TNM staging system is used to identify the different stages of Ewing sarcoma. There is no official staging system for Ewing sarcoma. Still, localized Ewing sarcoma and metastatic Ewing sarcoma are the two criteria that help describe Ewing sarcoma and work together to plan the best treatments. Localized Ewing sarcoma is only found by imaging in the primary site, physical examination, or lymph nodes next to the tumor, which has not spread beyond that area. Metastatic Ewing sarcoma has spread from the prior site where it began to another part of the body, like the lungs, bone marrow, or other bones. Recurrent Ewing sarcoma is another criterion that have returned after treatment.
Stages of Ewing Sarcoma
Staging is the procedure of determining where the tumor is located, whether it has spread or not, and how it grows. While assessing the cancer stage, many factors are taken into account.
Doctors use diagnostic tests to discover cancer’s stage, so staging may not be complete until all tests are finished.
There is no official staging system for Ewing sarcoma, but the below-mentioned criteria help describe Ewing sarcoma and work together to plan the best treatments –
- Localized Ewing sarcoma – The tumor is only found by imaging in the primary site, physical examination, or lymph nodes next to the tumor 1. Lymph nodes are bean-shaped, small organs that help fight infection. The tumor has not spread beyond that area.
- Metastatic Ewing sarcoma – The tumor has spread from the primary site where it began to another part of the body, like the lungs, bone marrow, or other bones. Rarely, the disease spreads to the brain, lymph nodes, or spinal cord. Doctors will quickly see evidence of tumor spread in 25% of children and young adults having Ewing sarcoma when diagnosed. Whether the tumor has spread is the most important factor determining a person’s treatment options 2.
Recurrent Ewing sarcoma – Recurrent Ewing sarcoma is a tumor that has returned after treatment. If cancer returns, there will be another round of tests to know the extent of the recurrence. These tests and scans are usually similar to those at the original diagnosis.
References
- 1.Ahmed SK, Randall RL, DuBois SG, et al. Identification of Patients With Localized Ewing Sarcoma at Higher Risk for Local Failure: A Report From the Children’s Oncology Group. International Journal of Radiation Oncology*Biology*Physics. Published online December 2017:1286-1294. doi:10.1016/j.ijrobp.2017.08.020
- 2.Meshram GG, Kaur N, Hura KS. Ewing’s Sarcoma with Distant Metastasis: A Brief Note on Management and Emerging Therapies. Clinics and Practice. Published online September 17, 2019:1111. doi:10.4081/cp.2019.1111