Childhood Sarcoma Diagnosis and Stages

New Patient Appointment or 214-645-8300

UT Southwestern Medical Center partners with Children’s Health to diagnose and treat pediatric cancers such as childhood sarcoma. UT Southwestern treats a high volume of patients, which means we offer a high level of expertise.

Diagnosing Childhood Sarcoma

Our pediatric cancer specialists use the most advanced diagnostic tools to identify childhood sarcoma.

Our physicians begin with a thorough evaluation that includes a:

Discussion of symptoms
Review of personal and family medical history
Physical and neurological exam

They may order additional tests, such as:

Blood and urine tests: These measure hormone levels and substances that could indicate cancer.
Biopsy: The doctor removes a sample of tissue to be examined in a laboratory for cancer.
Imaging exams: These include positron-emission tomography, nuclear bone scans, ultrasound, computed tomography (CT) scans, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). This helps us learn the size of the tumor and reveal whether it has spread.

Once the type, size, and location of the tumor are known, a course for treatment can be determined.

We may also include genetic tests that can identify genetic mutations and help determine the best treatment strategies.

Stages of Childhood Sarcoma

Staging is a way to measure the spread and size of the sarcoma. This helps our doctors create a treatment plan that’s personalized to each patient.

Childhood sarcoma is often evaluated by stages – 1, 2, 3, or 4 – with some stages divided into substages. The lower the number, the more contained the cancer is. A higher number indicates that the cancer is more advanced.

Parents should consult their doctor about their child’s cancer stage and how it affects their treatment plan.