Primary spinal column sarcomas

Summary Five cases of primary spinal column sarcomas are presented. Sarcomas primarily originating from paravertebral soft tissues were excluded. Patients' age ranged from 1 to 14 years (mean 8.4 years). The male: female ratio was 23. Two patients had Ewing's sarcoma (ES) originating from L5-S1 and L4-5 pedicles, respectively; two patients had mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (MCS) originating from L1-2 pedicles and L5 body, respectively; and one patient had osteogenic sarcoma (OS) of C4 body. All patients clinically presented with pain and progressive weakness of the extremities. The time that elapsed between the onset of symptoms and diagnoses ranged from one to five months. All cases were treated with chemotherapy, radiotherapy and subtotal tumour resection with spinal canal decompression. Two cases received posterior spinal fusion operations. Three patients were alive 10 to 98 months following diagnosis. Only the case with ES of L5-S1 pedicles was in complete remission and off therapy at the 98th postoperative month. The two MCS cases were in partial remission, and were receiving chemoterapy at the time of analysis. These tumours caused similar clinical findings and prognoses, and required combined treatment, which consisted of surgery, radiotherapy and chemotherapy; histologically three different types of malignant tumours are presented in the same category. We preferred surgical decompression and stabilization procedures especially for neurologically symptomatic patients, even if they had extensive tumours with high grades. By spinal canal decompression and stabilisation, we did not intend to cure the disease; however, we intended to provide neurological improvement, spinal stabilisation, improved quality of life, early mobilisation of the patient, and cytoreduction by means of surgical tumour ablation, which could render the chemotherapy more effective.