Pelvic bone sarcomas: Controversies and treatment options

Treatment of pelvic bone sarcomas remains one of the most challenging areas of orthopedic oncology for all members of the disease management team. Although considerable advances have been made in all aspects of sarcoma treatment, the prognosis for patients with primary sarcomas of the pelvis continues to be guarded, and therefore, much controversy exists regarding optimal surgical management, radiation therapy, and systemic therapy. This article summarizes the current treatment paradigms for the 3 most common bone sarcomas (osteosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, and chondrosarcoma), highlighting the unresolved issues in their management as they pertain to the pelvis.