Osteosarcoma accounts for 35% of primary bone malignancies and is considered the most common type of malignant bone cancer. It is also the sixth most common type of cancer in children.  Children are more susceptible when they are at their peak for growth (growth spurts).  Boys are more likely to have osteosarcoma than girls.

 

Symptoms

Patients of osteosacrcoma usually have pain in the affected area, which can become worst at night.  Affected bones are usually the longer ones (such as the bones of the leg, or the upper arm bones). 

In cases where the tumor is large, a localized swelling may be seen.  In addition, the affected bone may be more fragile than other bones and may result in fracture more easily.

 

Diagnosis

The first step to diagnosing osteosarcoma is by an x-ray.  Other scans are often ordered as well such as a Pet scan, bone scan or an MRI.  Final diagnosis is usually done by way of a surgical biopsy, whereby the surgeon removes a small tissue sample for observation under a microscope.

 

Treatment

Current standard treatment is to use neoadjuvant chemotherapy (chemotherapy given before surgery) followed by surgical resection. The percentage of tumor cell necrosis (cell death) seen in the tumor after surgery gives an idea of the prognosis and also lets the oncologist know if the chemotherapy regime should be altered after surgery.

Despite chemotherapy's success osteosarcoma still has one of the lowest survival rates for pediatric cancer.  However, there is some promising new treatments emerging using new chemotherapy drugs.  Other research is focused on determining the role of growth factors in the development of osteosarcoma.