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Osteosarcoma
Is a fracture in osteosarcoma very dangerous?
Osteosarcoma is a malignant tumor of the bone, commonly found in adolescents and young adults, primarily occurring near the proximal tibia, distal femur, and proximal humerus, mostly at the metaphyseal ends. The tumor itself can lead to bone destruction and periosteal reactions. Pathological fractures may occur, which are frequently observed clinically. If a fracture occurs, radiographic examination can generally detect it, often showing a Codman's triangle or sunburst pattern. Early detection and treatment are crucial. Once a pathological fracture is observed, it typically indicates a middle to late stage of the disease, with a particularly high likelihood of lung metastasis. The situation with just a pathological fracture is quite severe, and unlike other fractures that might be managed with steel plates or intramedullary pins, treatment here is conservative, possibly requiring amputation, though limb-sparing approaches may also be necessary. Detecting the condition early, before distant metastasis, and combining treatment with radiotherapy or chemotherapy, can result in a five-year survival rate above 50%. The threat posed by pathological fractures alone is significant, and amputation may be necessary, with chemotherapy likely required post-surgery.
How is osteosarcoma formed?
The causes of osteosarcoma are not yet definitively determined, but it is generally believed to be closely related to trauma, genetics, and living environment. Osteosarcoma typically occurs in adolescents and is a highly malignant disease. If not treated promptly, it can lead to death within three to six months. After the diagnosis of osteosarcoma, amputation through surgery is the only effective treatment method. Amputation may extend the patient's survival period, but there is a high risk of recurrence, which can lead to death.
What is the metastatic pathway of osteosarcoma?
Osteosarcoma commonly spreads in three ways. The first is through hematogenous dissemination, meaning that tumor cells spread throughout the body via the bloodstream, a process known as hematogenous spread. The second method is called implantation metastasis, where tumor cells directly implant in the common sites of osteosarcoma, leading to localized disease. The third type is lymphatic spread, where tumor cells spread to multiple parts of the body through the lymphatic system, causing new tumor growth. These three pathways are the most common routes of metastasis seen clinically in osteosarcoma, with hematogenous spread being the most frequent.
During the treatment of osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma is a highly malignant tumor of the bone, primarily presenting with pain, elevated skin ridges, and bulging veins. Radiological examination often reveals bone abnormalities, such as Codman's triangle and periosteal reactions due to sun exposure. If there is no metastasis in the early stages, limb amputation surgery can be performed, as well as limb-sparing surgeries involving devitalization and reimplantation or prosthetic implantation. Post-operative treatment involves high-dose chemotherapy, which can inhibit the growth of the bone tumor and extend the patient's survival time. There is a high probability of lung metastasis occurring in the early stages of the disease. If metastasis occurs, the survival time may be significantly reduced. Early diagnosis of this disease is crucial, and it must be treated with chemotherapy as early as possible. With the rapid development of chemotherapy, the five-year survival rate for osteosarcoma can increase to over 50%. Thus, early detection, early treatment, early surgery, followed by chemotherapy and radiotherapy are essential to prolong the patient's survival time.
The cause of osteosarcoma
At present, the causes of osteosarcoma are not yet clear, but it may be related to genetics, exposure to radioactive substances, and viral infections. It can also be secondary to other deformative osteitis and fibrous dysplasia of bone. Furthermore, some cases can also develop from other benign tumors, gradually degenerating into malignant tumors. Osteosarcoma commonly affects the long bones, mostly located at the metaphyseal ends, with fewer cases in the middle of the diaphysis. The tumor develops very rapidly, generally spreading gradually towards the ends of the bone, destroying the bone tissue, causing the tumor mass to quickly reach under the periosteum, and invading the neighboring muscle tissue outwardly.
Osteosarcoma common onset age
Osteosarcoma most commonly occurs in adolescents under the age of 20, or in children, and is a type of malignant tumor. It is the most common malignant bone tumor in children, accounting for about 5% of all malignant tumors in children, making this age group highly susceptible to osteosarcoma. The formation of osteosarcoma is mainly due to external factors such as viral infections and genetic mutations that lead to cell mutations. Osteosarcoma is a typical malignant tumor that destroys bone and surrounding soft tissue, leading to pathological fractures. It can also form distant metastases, thus posing a significant threat.
early symptoms of osteosarcoma
The early symptoms of osteosarcoma mainly include the following types: First, pain - patients will experience obvious pain in the affected limb. Second, lumps - lumps can be felt on the affected limb, accompanying significant tenderness. The growth rate of such lumps is directly related to your pathology and the course of your disease; the more severe your condition, the larger the lump. Third, limping - limping is caused by chronic pain in the affected limb. Over time, there may also be limited joint mobility and muscle atrophy in the affected limb. Fourth, symptoms such as fever, weight loss, and anemia may occur. Furthermore, in the middle and late stages of osteosarcoma, pathological fractures might occur.
How long can osteosarcoma last?
Osteosarcoma, also known as osteogenic sarcoma, commonly occurs in adolescents, especially in children and teenagers under the age of 20. It is one of the most malignant tumors among bone tumors, with most patients dying within six months to a year. However, early detection and treatment can potentially extend survival. The survival period of osteosarcoma depends on the location of the tumor; the closer to the distal extremities, the longer the survival period after treatment; the closer to the trunk, even with treatment, the survival period is not very long.
Do osteosarcomas hurt?
The early symptoms of osteosarcoma include pain, which initially is intermittent. As the condition progresses, this intermittent pain gradually becomes constant, and the intensity of the pain is parallel to the severity of the osteosarcoma, meaning the more severe the osteosarcoma, the more intense the pain. Additionally, you can also feel a lump forming on the affected limb, and this lump is clearly tender to touch. The third symptom is the occurrence of a limp. This limp is due to pain, which prevents the patient from bearing weight and walking for extended periods. Lastly, all osteosarcomas present symptoms such as anemia, pathologic fractures, and a low-grade fever.
Can osteosarcoma be felt?
Osteosarcoma can be felt by touch, and its main clinical manifestations include persistent progressive pain, which intensifies at night. Secondly, there are local lumps, commonly located at the distal femur, proximal tibia, and proximal humerus, which are high incidence areas for osteosarcoma. In such cases, you don't even need to touch it; you can see it with the naked eye because the swelling is quite severe. Additionally, the surrounding skin may appear reddened and warm, and superficial veins may become prominently swollen, indicating that the skin over the affected area looks different from normal skin. Moreover, in the area affected by osteosarcoma, the bone may show a spindle-shaped enlargement, looking like a spindle-shaped lump, causing the joint area and the surrounding normal joints to be clearly abnormal. Therefore, in cases of obvious symptoms of osteosarcoma, not only can you see the tumor, but you can also feel it. However, patients often will not let you touch it, as touching can cause pain and even force the joint and surrounding muscles into a forced state. This forced condition helps alleviate pain in the joint and surrounding areas. Thus, osteosarcoma can indeed be felt by touch.