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Osteosarcoma
Do benign osteomas require surgery?
Does a benign osteosarcoma require surgery? First, it needs to be clarified that there is no such thing as a benign osteosarcoma; osteosarcomas are definitely malignant and their degree of malignancy is relatively high. According to the Enneking staging, they are classified as Stage IIB and are highly prone to distant metastases, such as lung and brain metastases. Therefore, if osteosarcoma is described as benign, the first point is that it is a diagnostic error—it is not osteosarcoma; the second point is a misunderstanding, as osteosarcoma only has malignant forms. Additionally, how should osteosarcoma be treated? Currently, there is a treatment called neoadjuvant chemotherapy, which involves 6-8 sessions of chemotherapy before surgery. After the symptoms subside and the tumor size reduces, the specific circumstances of the patient determine whether conservative or timely treatment is chosen, followed by continued chemotherapy after surgery. This approach helps significantly improve the five-year and ten-year survival rates of osteosarcoma patients. Therefore, it is important to note two points: first, osteosarcoma is not benign but malignant; second, the current treatment for osteosarcoma mainly revolves around surgical combined treatment methods.
Early symptoms of osteosarcoma
The early symptoms of osteosarcoma are generally not very obvious, manifesting only as occasional pain and discomfort around the joints, which can limit joint mobility. As the condition progresses, this intermittent pain becomes continuous. Additionally, the intensity of the pain gradually increases, and lumps may also appear, which typically cause pain when pressed. As the disease further advances, patients may also experience low-grade fever, anemia, and liver and kidney failure, eventually leading to pathological fractures. Therefore, for the treatment of osteosarcoma, early detection and early treatment are crucial for the best prognosis.
Can osteosarcoma be felt as a lump?
Osteosarcoma can be felt as a lump, and generally does not show symptoms in the early stages. Once symptoms appear and a mass is palpable, it is usually at the mid to late stage. The main manifestation is pain, with a local mass; the pain tends to be persistent and primarily occurs at night. Additionally, local veins may be distended, and the patient may exhibit cachexia phenomena, with gradual weight loss. Comprehensive body examinations can reveal early lung metastasis in the patient. If there is no metastasis, limb-sparing or amputation surgeries can usually be performed. The presence of distant metastases directly affects the patient's survival time. Early radiographic investigations show a Codman's triangle, and further pathology tests are needed for confirmation. After confirmation, early surgical treatment, combined with postoperative chemotherapy, can improve the patient's survival time, generally with a five-year survival rate of over 50%.
Can osteosarcoma patients eat mangoes?
Patients with osteosarcoma are advised to follow a light diet and eat more vegetables. Fruits should mainly consist of common ones, including apples and other fruits. Although mango is a tropical food and can be consumed occasionally without major impact, it is still advisable to avoid excessive consumption. It is also appropriate to consume some nutritional health foods, such as multivitamins or high-quality protein powder, which can better enhance one's immunity. Additionally, it is important to maintain a joyful mood. The diet should primarily avoid spicy and irritating foods, as well as bad habits like drinking alcohol, smoking, and staying up late.
Osteosarcoma is divided into three types.
Osteosarcoma, also known as osteogenic sarcoma, is a primary malignant tumor of the bone. It ranks second in incidence among primary bone tumors, following plasma cell myeloma. The traditional classification of osteosarcoma generally divides it into osteosarcoma and parosteal osteosarcoma. However, recent studies have shown significant changes in the subdivision of osteosarcoma, mainly due to differences in clinical radiology and histology, and currently, there is no universally accepted method. Some classification systems categorize osteosarcoma based on the precise location of the tumor in the bone, the degree of differentiation of the tumor, the components within the tumor, the number of lesions, and the condition of the bone itself. Common classifications include general osteosarcoma, capillary hemangioma-like osteosarcoma, small cell osteosarcoma, and traditional parosteal osteosarcoma.
Can osteosarcoma be detected on an X-ray?
First of all, it should be noted that osteosarcoma can be detected in patients through imaging tests. For example, a localized MRI can clearly diagnose osteosarcoma. Once detected, it is necessary to actively pursue symptomatic treatment. Surgical removal is usually the main treatment method, involving the excision of the affected area. If necessary, the excision may need to be extended, or amputation may be required. After surgery, the excised specimen should be sent for pathological examination. Based on the results of the pathology test, further radiation therapy or chemotherapy can be completely sufficient. The results are generally quite good for most patients.
How to diagnose osteosarcoma?
For the examination of osteosarcoma, the first step is to take an X-ray, which can show changes in the bone quality. At the same time, it is necessary to perform a CT scan or MRI to clarify the nature of this bone tumor and its extent, or whether there is any distant metastasis. The third method is a nuclear bone scan, which mainly detects whether there are any early distant metastatic lesions. Of course, in clinical practice, the gold standard for diagnosing osteosarcoma relies on the examination of living tissue. That is, to perform a surgery, carry out a minor operation to obtain a little tissue from the bone tumor, and then send it for pathological examination to determine the nature of the tumor. This is the gold standard for diagnosing osteosarcoma.
Symptoms of osteosarcoma metastasis to the lungs
Osteosarcoma is a malignant tumor of the bone, most commonly found in adolescents and young adults. The most frequent sites are the distal femur, the proximal tibia, or the proximal humerus. Early-stage patients often experience lung metastases, which are quite common. Initially, there are no symptoms; however, as the disease progresses, symptoms such as lumps, significant pain especially at night, increased local skin temperature, dilated veins, and weight loss may appear. At this stage, radiographic examinations are imperative to identify the tumor presence, indicated by findings such as a Codman triangle or sunray appearance, which are suggestive of osteosarcoma, though confirmation through pathology is essential. Furthermore, comprehensive body scans are necessary to check for metastases. Early-stage lung metastases might not show symptoms, but as the disease advances, symptoms like coughing, coughing up blood, and pleural effusion, possibly bloody, may develop. Severe cases can lead to respiratory difficulties and cachexia. Early detection and treatment, combined with postoperative chemotherapy, can lead to a five-year survival rate of over 50%. However, the disease is often diagnosed in its intermediate to late stages due to the absence of early symptoms, making it challenging to detect.
Why does osteosarcoma not hurt?
Osteosarcoma usually presents with pain, which is often severe, persistent, and most pronounced at night. The local skin temperature may also increase, accompanied by venous obstruction. It is a malignant tumor of the bone, most commonly located near the proximal part of the tibia or the distal part of the femur. The main symptom is pain, and a definite diagnosis can be made through radiographic examination, such as sunlight exposure, Codman's triangle, etc. In its early stages, osteosarcoma can metastasize. If there is no pain, it may be due to individual variations in the disease. However, the first symptoms of malignant bone tumors are usually pain and a palpable mass. Radiographic examinations will show changes. If osteosarcoma is confirmed and there is no pain, it could be related to the disease not having progressed to a more severe stage, possibly indicating an early stage. Early aggressive surgical treatment is recommended, such as limb-sparing surgery, devitalization and reimplantation, or prosthetic implantation. Another option is amputation. Osteosarcoma has a relatively high chance of metastasizing to the lungs; therefore, early surgery, early diagnosis, and rapid chemotherapy are essential, as these can significantly increase the five-year survival rate.
How to prevent osteosarcoma
From the perspective of osteosarcoma itself, prevention should involve active exercise, a healthy lifestyle, and a regular schedule. All of these can play a preventive role. However, as of now, there is no clear cause of what triggers osteosarcoma, and it is still unknown. For patients with osteosarcoma, we need to achieve early diagnosis and early treatment. Since many osteosarcomas occur in adolescents, if your child complains of bone pain and feels lumps, and more severely, experiences joint functional impairment, parents must be vigilant. It is advised for the patient to go to a hospital and have an imaging test done to confirm if it is caused by osteosarcoma. Therefore, early diagnosis and early treatment are best.