00:00When surgeons remove a tumor, how much healthy tissue do they really need to take?
00:04For one group of childhood cancers, a new trial suggests far less than thought.
00:09These soft tissue sarcomas start in tissues that become muscles, nerves, and tendons.
00:14About 550 new cases are diagnosed in U.S. children each year.
00:18The standard margin has been 1 to 2 centimeters of healthy tissue.
00:22In a child's small body, that can mean losing nerves or blood vessels.
00:26A UC Davis-led trial followed 266 young patients for a median of 6.2 years.
00:33Exact margins were known for 132 of them.
00:36With just a 1-millimeter margin, the 5-year local recurrence risk was 4.9%.
00:41With 2-5 millimeters, it was 2%.
00:44With 6 millimeters or more, it was zero.
00:46These decisions still need experienced sarcoma teams.
00:49But a single millimeter could help save a young patient's limb.
00:53Disclosure.
00:54This video contains stock footage and content created or enhanced using AI-assisted tools.
