Infantile undifferentiated sarcomas: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge – two case reports and literature review

Authors

  • Aleksandra Stanio Student Scientific Circle, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland
  • Jakub Czarny Student Scientific Circle, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland
  • Sandra Rutkowska Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Transplantology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland
  • Katarzyna Adamczewska-Wawrzynowicz Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Transplantology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland
  • Łukasz Młynarczyk Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Transplantology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland
  • Agnieszka Stróżyk Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Transplantology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland
  • Katarzyna Jończyk-Potoczna Department of Pediatric Radiology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland
  • Alicja Bartkowska-Śniatkowska Department of Pediatric Anaesthesiology and Intensive Therapy, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland
  • Jacek Wachowiak Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Transplantology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland
  • Katarzyna Derwich Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Transplantology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland
  • Olga Zając-Spychała Department of Pediatric Oncology, Hematology and Transplantology, Poznan University of Medical Sciences, Poland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.2340/1651-226X.2025.42162

Keywords:

undifferentiated sarcoma, infancy, progression, aggressive chemotherapy, chemotherapy toxicity

Abstract

Background: Soft tissue undifferentiated sarcomas (STUS) are an ultra-rare and heterogenous group of mesenchymal neoplasms often lacking known genetic abnormalities with a marked vulnerability towards intensive therapy such as invasive surgery and high dose chemotherapy. Despite aggressive treatment, they are usually associated with dismal outcomes.

Case presentation: Here we describe two cases of STUS in 3-week-old and 3-month-old infants localized on the neck and the trunk area.

Discussion: In both cases, the malignancy had a fatal outcome due to the toxicity of intensive therapy in one case and the progression of the disease in the other. The purpose of this report is to discuss the clinical challenges of managing infancy-related STUS such as limited treatment options and poor prognosis.

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Published

2025-02-10

How to Cite

Stanio, A., Czarny, J., Rutkowska, S., Adamczewska-Wawrzynowicz, K., Młynarczyk, Łukasz, Stróżyk, A., … Zając-Spychała, O. (2025). Infantile undifferentiated sarcomas: a diagnostic and therapeutic challenge – two case reports and literature review. Acta Oncologica, 64, 241–246. https://doi.org/10.2340/1651-226X.2025.42162