Geographic and ethnic variation in incidence of Ewing sarcoma family of tumors

Striking differences in the incidence of Ewing sarcoma are well documented and are graphically evident in this illustration. The well-known near-total lack of incidence in native Africans (Zimbabwe and Nigeria with no reported incidence) as opposed to striking incidence in White people (Los Angeles, White population, 3.4) fails to convey the entire story. Surveillance, Epidemiology and End Results (SEER) network data clearly document an even greater incidence in Spain and Israel (approximately 3.5) as well as in at least two Polynesian populations, the New Zealand Maori and the Hawaiian Polynesian, with a similar incidence. At the same time, considerable variation among Asian populations is evident: China has the lowest reported incidence (0.1), Korea is intermediate (0.5), and Japan is the highest (1.0). These striking ethnic differences are not paralleled by any childhood malignancy.