Radiation treatment of Ewing's sarcoma and osteogenic sarcoma

At the Princess Margaret Hospital, Toronto, during the period 1960 to 1975, radiation therapy was given to 59 patients with Ewing's sarcoma without overt metastases. Over this period treatment was modified to include, as well as irradiation to the primary tumour, total body irradiation (TBI) and chemotherapy according to various regiments. The 5-year survival rate of 38% in 26% patients who received TBI suggests that this may be of value. In patients with osteogenic sarcoma preoperative irradiation was not found to be of value. Recently the resection of pulmonary metastases combined with chemotherapy has increased the survival rate. When the primary site makes resection impracticable, the response to irradiation and chemotherapy is encouraging. Three cases so treated are described.