Osteosarcoma: An Introduction
Osteosarcoma is a disease in which cancer cells are found in the bone. The most common type of
bone cancer, osteosarcoma usually occurs in adolescents and young adults. In most cases, tumors appear in the bones around the knee, the upper legs, and the upper arms. Both the potential symptoms and the chance of recovery in cases of osteosarcoma appear to be the same in children as they are in adolescents.
Osteosarcoma: Causes and Risk Factors
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 osteosarcoma risk factors include:
- Being a child or young adult
- Having undergone radiation therapy or chemotherapy
- Having history of Paget's disease
- Having a family history of osteosarcoma
- Having hereditary retinoblastoma.
Pain is the most common symptom of osteosarcoma. However, symptoms of osteosarcoma may vary depending on the location and the size of the tumor.
- Swelling, tenderness, or stiffness in the affected area
- Fracture
- Fatigue
- Fever
- Weight loss
- Anemia.
These symptoms are not sure signs of osteosarcoma. Other less serious health problems can also cause these symptoms. People who have possible osteosarcoma symptoms should see a doctor as soon as possible -- only a doctor can diagnose and treat the problem.
If a person has possible osteosarcoma symptoms, the doctor will typically perform a physical exam and ask about the patient's personal and family medical history. The doctor will also usually recommend additional tests and procedures that examine the bone. Exams and tests that are used to make an
osteosarcoma diagnosis may include:
- Blood tests
- X-rays
- Computed tomography (CT) scan
- Bone scan
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan
- Angiogram
- Biopsy.
Once the doctor has diagnosed osteosarcoma, he or she will likely order more tests to determine if cancer cells have spread to other parts of the body. This is normally called staging. Currently, there is no staging system for the different types of osteosarcoma. Most patients are grouped depending on:
- Whether the cancer is found in only one part of the body (localized osteosarcoma )
- Whether the disease has spread from one part of the body to another (metastatic osteosarcoma )
- Whether the cancer has returned (recurrent osteosarcoma).
The doctor will need to determine where the cancer is located and how far the disease has spread in order to plan the best
osteosarcoma treatment.
(Click Osteosarcoma Stages for more information about how cases of osteosarcoma are classified.)
Treatment for Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma treatment options vary based on:
- Whether the cancer is localized, metastatic, or recurrent (see Osteosarcoma Stages)
- Where the tumor is found
- The patient's age and general health.
In general, treatment for osteosarcoma can include:
- Surgery
- Radiation therapy
- Chemotherapy
- A combination of these.
Patients should work with their doctors to develop a treatment plan that meets their medical needs and personal values. Choosing the most appropriate osteosarcoma treatment is a decision that ideally involves the patient, the family, and the healthcare team.
The osteosarcoma prognosis will depend on factors such as:
- The size and location of osteosarcoma
- Whether the cancer is localized, metastatic, or recurrent
- How long the patient has had symptoms
- How much of the cancer is taken out by surgery or killed by chemotherapy
- The patient's blood test results (and results of other tests)
- The patient's age and general health.
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