Primary Ewing's sarcoma of the maxilla: a clinicopathological study of four cases

The author reports four cases of Ewing's sarcoma primarily located in the maxilla and emphasizes the rarity of such a primary location and the fact that this series contained cases observed at the Department of Otolaryngology of Padua University during the last three years which, though small, is the largest so far reported. In addition to a review of the world literature on the subject, the problems related to the differential diagnosis, in particular from reticulum cell sarcoma of bone, neuroblastoma and olfactory neuroblastoma are discussed. The cases reported are accurately described and histologically documented. Treatment of Ewing's sarcoma is also discussed and, according to the author, the elective therapeutic procedure should consider local irradiation and intermittent but prolonged systemic chemotherapy, leaving mutilating surgery only for recurrent tumours.