Lymph node staging and treatment in pediatric patients with soft tissue
sarcomas: A consensus opinion from the Children’s Oncology Group,
European paediatric Soft tissue sarcoma Study Group, and the Cooperative
Weichteilsarkom Studiengruppe
Abstract
Accurate staging of nodal involvement in pediatric sarcoma patients is
important to determine correct systemic and local therapy, with the goal
to reduce subsequent recurrences. However, differences in lymph node
staging strategies, definitions, and treatment protocols between the
Children’s Oncology Group (COG), European Pediatric Soft Tissue Sarcoma
Study Group (EpSSG), and the Cooperative Weichteil Sarkom Studiengruppe
(CWS), complicate comparisons. In this article we try to establish
internationally recognized recommendations for lymph node assessment and
treatment of children and adolescents diagnosed with RMS and NRSTS
according to the Consensus Conference Standard Operating Procedure
methodology.