The Scandinavian Sarcoma Group--background, organization and the SSG Register--the first 25 years.

Abstract

� � � � � � � � � � � � � � � � Musculoskeletal sarcomas call for multidisciplinary management by a “tumor team” of specialized orthopedic surgeons, radiologists, pathologists, tumor biologists (e.g. molecular and cytogenetics, DNA cytometry), cytologists, radiotherapists, and oncologists (Figure 1). Only a few such teams existed in Scandinavia during the 1970s. With the inception of the Scandinavian Sarcoma Group (SSG) in 1979, several new teams were started, each with regional responsibility for centralized treatment of sarcoma patients. Together, Denmark, Finland, Iceland, Norway and Sweden have a population of 25 million. These countries have similar social structures, with modern medical services covering all inhabitants and an effective registration of all cancer patients. The similarity of the