Treatment of childhood tumors of mesenchymal origin

Mesenchymal cells can be differentiated into skeletal muscle, smooth muscle, adipose tissue, fibrous tissue, bone and cartilage. Tumors can be originated from these tissues as benign tumors – fi broma, lipoma, osteoma, chondroma, haemangioma, myoma, etc. or as malignant tumors – in childhood, most commonly rhabdomyosarcomas, osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, less often fi brosarcoma, liposarcoma or other rare types. Clinically, the outcome of these tumors have improved signifi cantly in the last decade due to the use of multi-modality treatment (chemotherapy, surgery, irradiation, in some cases targeted therapy). The better treatment results are based on early diagnosis and adequate management according to international treatment protocols in pediatric oncology centers.