Ewing's sarcoma of the mobile spine.

STUDY DESIGN A retrospective analysis was performed. OBJECTIVES To determine the oncological outcome of patients with nonmetastatic Ewing's sarcoma of the mobile spine treated with systemic multiagent chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy for definitive local control. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA To our knowledge, there are no studies that evaluate the oncological outcome of patients with nonmetastatic Ewing's sarcoma of the mobile spine treated with systemic chemotherapy and radiation therapy for definitive local control. METHODS Thirteen patients with nonmetastatic Ewing's sarcoma of the mobile spine were treated with high-dose multiagent chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy for definitive local control from 1971 to 2000 at a single institution. Patients were observed for a minimum of 2 years or until death. Neurological function, local recurrence, distant relapse, and treatment-related complications were evaluated. RESULTS There were 8 females and 5 males with a mean age of 19 years (ranging from 7-26 years). The mean follow-up time was 65 months (median 28 months; ranging from 2 to 218 months). All patients presented with pain. Motor deficits were present in 6 patients. Ten patients had a decompressive laminectomy. Improved pain control, as determined by narcotic use, was noted in 12 (92%) patients. Ten patients maintained or improved motor function by at least 1 Frankel grade, while 3 had deterioration of motor function. The disease-free survival rate was 49% and 36% at 5 and 10 years. Five (38%) patients were free of disease at last follow-up. Seven patients developed metastatic disease. Three (23%) patients developed a local recurrence. One of these patients had paraplegia associated with the local recurrence. Five patients developed 8 treatment-related complications. Four of the 10 (40%) patients that had a laminectomy developed progressive kyphosis. Two of these patients also developed late-onset cauda equina syndrome along with the deformity. One of these patients also developed cardiomyopathy associated with adriamycin cardiotoxicity. One patient developed a nonhealing pressure ulcerover a prominent spinous process. CONCLUSIONS The current study provides historical data on a relatively homogeneous group of patients withEwing's sarcoma of the mobile spine treated with multiagent chemotherapy combined with radiation therapy for definitive local control. Systemic chemotherapy combined with current spinal resection and reconstruction techniques may lead to improved oncological and clinical outcomes.