Causes of Osteosarcoma

No one knows the exact cause or causes of osteosarcoma; however, research has shown that people with certain risk factors are more likely than others to develop osteosarcoma. A risk factor is anything that increases a person's chances of developing a disease.
 
Specific risk factors for osteosarcoma include:
 
  • Being a child or young adult
  • Having undergone radiation therapy or chemotherapy
  • Having a history of Paget's disease
  • Having a family history of osteosarcoma
  • Having hereditary retinoblastoma.
     
(Click Causes of Bone Cancer for more information.)
 
Written by/reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD
Last reviewed by: Arthur Schoenstadt, MD