Osteosarcoma diagnostic methods

Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
Updated on September 07, 2024
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Osteosarcoma Diagnostic Methods: In clinical practice, once osteosarcoma is suspected in a patient, the diagnostic approach, as per the Chinese Cancer Treatment Guidelines, requires a combination of clinical symptoms, radiological data, and pathology. Only through the integration of these three elements can a definitive diagnosis of osteosarcoma be established. Reliance solely on pathology, or exclusively on radiologic examination or clinical examination, can lead to biased results. Given that immediate treatment is crucial upon the discovery of osteosarcoma, and considering the severe implications of treatment costs, patient suffering, and other related issues, it is vital that the diagnosis of osteosarcoma is error-free. To ensure absolute certainty, the approach should involve clinical symptoms supplemented by necessary auxiliary examinations such as X-rays and CT or MRI scans, followed by a diagnostic biopsy for pathological results. This comprehensive combination generally prevents the occurrence of missed or misdiagnoses in patients with osteosarcoma. Therefore, the confirmatory diagnosis of osteosarcoma should not rely solely on one type of examination but should combine clinical assessment with necessary imaging data and pathology to finalize the diagnosis process.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Osteosarcoma bone metastasis symptoms

The symptoms of osteosarcoma metastasis, osteosarcoma most commonly metastasizes to the lungs. If pulmonary metastasis occurs, there are at least two prominent characteristics. The first is that most metastatic tumors are located on the surface of the lungs and are rarely within the lung parenchyma, thus, they are not difficult to detect. The second point is that most metastatic tumors predominantly present as multiple bilateral lung metastases. Isolated unilateral lung metastasis is very rare. Therefore, this characteristic determines that osteosarcoma lung metastasis can only be managed with local wedge-shaped or segmental lung resections as the basic comfort measure. In fact, this simple surgical approach often allows for complete removal of the metastatic tumors while preserving most of the normal lung tissue.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Can osteosarcoma occur on the knee?

Can osteosarcomas grow on the knee? In fact, the locations where osteosarcomas commonly appear are indeed near the knee. There are mainly three common sites: the most prevalent is the distal end of the femur, the lower part of the thigh bone. The second most common site is the proximal end of the tibia. The third is the proximal end of the humerus. Therefore, osteosarcomas usually do grow near the knee. What are the symptoms of an osteosarcoma? The symptoms of osteosarcoma include, first, localized pain, which is a constant pain that persists, worsens, and does not alleviate, often causing night pain, and many patients do not feel pain during the day, only at night. The second symptom is a localized lump, generally spindle-shaped, with an increased skin temperature over the surface, and even distended veins due to the tumor restricting nearby joint movement. The third symptom is the appearance of cachexia or wasting syndrome throughout the body. The fourth point is that the growth of the osteosarcoma leads to erosion of the bone and eventually pathologic fractures. Thus, the likelihood of osteosarcomas appearing near the knee is very high, and many patients typically come to the hospital because of painful lumps near the knee, and then, after examination, the diagnosis is confirmed.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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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.

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
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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.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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What are the symptoms of osteosarcoma?

Osteosarcoma is a very common malignant tumor, primarily occurring at the distal femur, proximal tibia, and proximal humerus. Its manifestations mainly include persistent pain at these three locations, which gradually worsens and is accompanied by nighttime pain. Secondly, there is local swelling; the surface of the tumor may feel warmer to the touch and may even exhibit prominent veins, leading to restricted joint movement near the tumor. Thirdly, some patients may exhibit signs of systemic deterioration, such as weight loss, anemia, and fatigue. Fourthly, osteolytic osteosarcomas often erode the bone cortex, eventually weakening the bone and leading to pathological fractures. Thus, the symptoms of osteosarcoma include persistent pain in specific areas accompanied by nighttime pain, local swelling, systemic deterioration, and pathological fractures in many patients.