Ewing sarcoma of the mandibular condyle: multidisciplinary management optimizes outcome

BACKGROUND: Ewing sarcoma (ES) is a rare, primary malignancy of bone that occurs in childhood and early adolescence. Improved methods of diagnosis and treatment have dramatically increased survival over the last 20 years. Treatment mainstays are chemotherapy and surgical tumor resection. ES usually occurs in long bones of the axial skeleton; however, it may rarely arise in facial structures, particularly the mandible. In these cases, resection presents a challenging postsurgical reconstruction. METHODS AND RESULTS: We present the clinical findings and management of a case of ES that developed in the left mandibular condyle of a 15-year-old female. Chemotherapy and segmental mandibulectomy were used to achieve local control. An innovative temporomandibular joint reconstruction was successfully accomplished using a microvascular fibular free flap and conchal cartilage graft. CONCLUSION: Multidisciplinary management in diagnosis, treatment, and restoration of function produced an optimal result that eliminated disease and preserved aesthetics and quality of life.