• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.9 no.1
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• pp.117-122
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• 1991

Malignant small round cell tumor (SRCT) of the thoracopulmonary region appears to originate in the soft tissues of the chest wall or the peripheral lung. A differential diagnosis of poorly differentiated small round cell tumors which include Ewing's sarcoma of bone and soft tissue, embryonal rhabdomyosarcoma, Askin tumor, neuroblastoma, peripheral neuroectodermal tumor, small cell osteogenic sarcoma and Iymphoma are often difficult by light microscopy alone. In recent, by the extensive studies electron microscopic examination, histochemical study, immune-chemical study, cytogenetics and gene analysis, these tumors may be derived from the primitive and pluripotential cells, differentiating into mesenchymal, epithelial and neural features in variable proportions. Treatment for SRCT of thoracopulmonary region is not determined because of massive involvement of the lung, pleura or soft tissues of the chest wall resulted in a dismal outcome despite aggressive surgery, irradiation and chemotherapy.

• Radiation Oncology Journal
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• v.4 no.1
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• pp.63-66
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• 1986

The malignant small round cell tumor of the thoracopulmonary region was described by Askin in 1979 and called as Askin Tumor. The Askin tumor is a rare, arises from the soft tissues of the chest wall or peripheral lung which is predominantly in younger generation. Clinical and pathologic appearance were very similar to Ewing's sarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma but when examined it by electron microscopy, there was some different in morphology. The tumor tended to recur locally and did not seem to disseminated widely but the median survival was only 8 months.