Brain Sarcoma

Primary sarcoma of the central nervous system.

Primary Sarcoma of the Brain.

Merimsky O
Unit of Bone and Soft Tissue Oncology, Tel-Aviv Sourasky Medical Center and Tel-Aviv University Sackler School of Medicine, Tel-Aviv, Israel. merimsky@zahav.net.il

The medical files of 14 patients with primary brain and spine sarcomas were retrospectively reviewed. Ten patients had primary brain sarcomas and 4 primary spinal sarcomas. The tumors probably originated in the brain substance or blood vessels, in the meninges or in the inner aspect of the skull. The spinal tumors originated in the nerve roots of the cauda equina and in the spinal substance or blood vessels. The most common type was angiosarcoma. Removal of the brain tumors was performed in 95% of the patients. Radiotherapy was delivered to 6 patients with brain sarcomas and to all patients with primary spinal sarcomas. Metastatic disease to the lung or pleural effusion was evident in 2 patients who underwent total removal of their tumors followed by radiation therapy.