Pediatric soft-tissue sarcomas.

Abstract

Pediatric soft-tissue sarcomas represent a relatively common problem in pediatric oncology. The evaluation of these lesions has contributed significantly to the understanding of the molecular basis of sarcomas, and the adjuvant treatment of these tumors has resulted in improved local control and significant improvements in long-term survival. The essence of successful treatment involves preoperative imaging, followed by needle biopsy, preoperative neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and well-documented surgical resection. Indications for radiation therapy and the adequacy of surgical margins remain areas of further investigation. The identification and treatment of well-defined histologic and molecular subtypes will allow further improvements in treatment decisions and clinical results.