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Cancer Information Line
Ask about cancer, clinical trials, and how to make an appointment:
ccinfo@umn.edu
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Bone and soft tissue malignant tumors are common tumors in children. It is also called musculoskeletal sarcoma, which means a cancer of mesenchymal tissues, such as the bone, soft tissues, and connective tissue.
On this page:
- Common Types of Musculoskeletal Tumors in Children
- Diagnosis
- Treatment
- Clinical Trials
- About Our Program
- How Can Our Coordinator Help You?
- Care Team Members for Pediatric Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors
Common Types of Musculoskeletal Tumors in Children
Osteogenic sarcoma (also called osteosarcoma)
This is the most common type of primary malignant bone cancer. Although it can occur at any age, osteosarcoma is typically found in teenagers and young adults and is slightly more common in males. Any bone in the body can be affected but the most common sites are the arms or legs, particularly around the knee joint. Read more about osteogenic sarcoma in the Bone Cancer section.
Ewing's sarcoma/PNET
Again, this type of bone cancer is more common in young people than adults. Any bone can be affected, but the pelvis, thigh bone and shin bone are the most common sites. Like osteosarcoma, this cancer is slightly more common in males than females. Read more about Ewing's sarcoma in the Bone Cancer section.
Rhabdomyosarcoma
This is the most common soft tissue malignant tumor in children. It can arise in any muscle in the body, but is most common in the head and neck area as well as the area of the pelvis.
Other bone tumors/sarcomas include mesenchymal chondrosarcomas, fibrosarcomas, and chondrosarcomas.
Diagnosis
The usual presenting symptom of the sarcoma is a painless mass. When pain appears, the tumor generally develops to its advanced stage. X-rays, CT or MRI scans are helpful to diagnose them. X-rays are especially useful for tumors of the arms and legs. CT scans (similar to x-rays) are used to look at the tumor but are also done on the chest to determine if the cancer has spread to the lungs. The lungs are the most common site for these tumors to spread. MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) scans use magnetic waves to take more detailed pictures of tumors and may be critical to the planning of surgery and/or radiation therapy. For an accurate diagnosis and to determine the type of sarcoma, a tissue biopsy is required and must be done before treatment starts.
Treatment
Most treatment protocols call for intense intravenous chemotherapy for about 12 weeks to shrink the tumor. Then a decision is made regarding "local control" of the tumor. Can the tumor be surgically removed, or will it need to be treated with radiation, or will it require both? Typically, another 24 weeks of chemotherapy follows the surgery and/or radiation.
Clinical Trials
Clinical trials are studies that evaluate the effectiveness of new interventions. There are different types of cancer clinical trials, such as prevention trials, early detection trials, and treatment trials. If you take part in a clinical trial, you may benefit from a new drug, procedure, or symptom-control method while helping scientists evaluate its effectiveness.
The Pediatric Musculoskeletal Tumor Clinical Team is actively engaged in both national and regional clinical trials for pediatric musculoskeletal cancer. View a list of current pediatric cancer clinical trials available or contact Program Coordinator Jody Dahl, R.N., M.S., at 612-626-2804 or jdahl@umphysicians.umn.edu.
About Our Program
The Masonic Cancer Center's orthopedic surgeons are highly specialized in treating bone and soft tissue tumors. In fact, they have pioneered "limb salvage" surgical procedures so the number of amputations is greatly decreased. Also, the pediatric oncology department participates in national clinical trials for aggressive treatment of newly diagnosed tumors and has joined with the National Cancer Institute in running Phase I and innovative therapies for relapsed and high-risk tumor patients.
How Can Our Coordinator Help You?
Our program coordinator facilitates the care children receive when they are diagnosed with a bone or soft tissue tumor. Patient education is important. The coordinator works with you to make sure you understand all aspects of the care required. Planning is also done with all the multidisciplinary team members involved in the care of patients with tumors in the bone and/or soft tissues. The coordinator ensures that the surgeries and/or radiation therapy as well as chemotherapy happen as they should and that families know what to expect. The coordinator also is directly involved in discharge planning and ensures smooth transitions between the inpatient and outpatient settings. For more information, contact Program Coordinator Jody Dahl, R.N., M.S., at 612-626-2804 or jdahl@umphysicians.umn.edu.
Care Team Members for Pediatric Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors
The links below go to physician profiles on the University of Minnesota Physicians Web site. To return to this site, either bookmark this page or use your browser's back button.
Pediatric Oncologists:
Oncologic Orthopaedic Surgeons:
Radiation Oncologist:
Pathologists:
Program Coordinators:
Social Worker:
Tracey Selstad, M.S.W.
Return to: Bone & Soft Tissue Cancers (Sarcomas)
Return to: Types of Pediatric Cancer
Content development for the Bone & Soft Tissue Cancers (Sarcomas) section was supported by the Karen Wyckoff Rein in Sarcoma Fund.