What is Ewing Sarcoma?

Ewing sarcoma is a malignant bone tumor, and its early detection is critically important. It is one of the most common types of sarcoma in adolescents and young adults.

 The disease most frequently affects bones, particularly those of the lower and upper extremities and the pelvis. In some cases, soft tissues may also be involved. Early diagnosis is essential, as it significantly impacts treatment outcomes.

 There are two main stages of the disease:

 Localized disease – when the tumor is confined to the bone or adjacent tissues. In such cases, treatment success rates reach approximately 70–75%.

Metastatic disease – when the cancer has spread to distant organs, including the lungs, other bones, or bone marrow. In these cases, the likelihood of cure decreases significantly, to 15–30% (sometimes lower).

Common Symptoms

Pain and swelling at the tumor site

Palpable mass with localized warmth

Fever of unknown origin or pathological fractures

Diagnosis

Diagnostic evaluation includes X-ray, CT, MRI, and PET/CT imaging. The definitive diagnosis is established based on histopathological examination of tumor tissue.

Treatment

In Armenia, treatment for Ewing sarcoma is provided at the “Yolyan” Hematology and Oncology Center, which hosts the country’s only pediatric oncology unit.

The center is a member of the Euro Ewing Consortium and follows international treatment protocols (both American and European guidelines). Treatment outcomes in Armenia are consistent with international benchmarks.

 Comprehensive treatment—including chemotherapy, radiotherapy, and, when indicated, surgical intervention—is fully available in Armenia, owing to the high level of expertise of local specialists. The financial burden is fully covered by the state and the City of Smile Charitable Foundation.