Ewing's sarcoma presenting as a posterior mediastinal mass: A lesson learned

Thoracic vertebral body hemicorpectomy and chest wall resection was perform ed in a 17-year-old male patient with a posterior mediastinal tumor thought to be neurogenic in origin. No preoperative tissue diagnostic endeavor was made. Final pathologic diagnosis showed this tumor to be Ewing's sarcoma. This communication alerts the thoracic surgeon to the need for definitive d iagnosis of posterior mediastinal masses with vertebral body involvement, p articularly in children. Induction chemotherapy is the accepted standard of management of these sarcomas. (Ann Thorac Surg 1999;67:845-7) (C) 1999 by The Society of Thoracic Surgeons.