Is osteosarcoma serious?

Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
Updated on September 03, 2024
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Osteosarcoma is a fairly serious condition. It is a type of malignant bone tumor and is classified as stage II according to the Eric staging system. Regardless of the treatment method used for osteosarcoma, the first issue is that it metastasizes quickly, and the second is that it tends to recur frequently. Therefore, once someone has osteosarcoma, it poses significant challenges, not only being difficult to treat but also involving considerable treatment costs. However, thanks to the efforts of researchers, a new adjuvant chemotherapy has been developed which has increased the five-year survival rate of osteosarcoma from 47% to about 80%, which is quite remarkable. Moreover, with this new adjuvant chemotherapy, patients first undergo chemotherapy, followed by surgery, during which chemotherapy is administered again, not only improving the five-year survival rate but also enhancing the quality of life for patients. Therefore, osteosarcoma is a very serious disease. In the past, amputation was common, followed by distal metastasis, so it didn't take long for metastases to appear in the lungs or brain. Thus, osteosarcoma is an extremely serious disease.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Osteosarcoma mainly metastasizes through

The main metastatic pathways of osteosarcoma are generally divided into three types. The first is hematogenous spread, which refers to the dispersal of tumor cells throughout the body via the bloodstream, typically settling in areas with slower blood flow which facilitates the deposition of these cells leading to local changes. The second is direct implantation, which involves tumor cells directly establishing themselves in the vicinity of the tumor's common sites, eventually leading to local metastasis. The third type is lymphatic spread, where tumor cells migrate through the lymphatic system, spreading along lymphatic vessels or pathways. Therefore, the main metastatic pathways of osteosarcoma are these three types. The primary sites of metastasis for osteosarcoma are mainly the lungs, but metastases can also occur in the brain or through other mechanisms.

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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Is osteosarcoma highly malignant?

First of all, it is certain that osteosarcoma is very malignant. Once osteosarcoma is detected, it is necessary to actively prepare for surgery, rule out surgical contraindications, and then proceed with surgical treatment. During the surgery, efforts should be made to perform an extended resection, and if necessary, amputation may be required. After the surgery, the excised specimen must be sent for pathological examination to determine the pathological type. Then, based on the examination results, effective radiotherapy and chemotherapy should be chosen to control the possibility of recurrence or metastasis of osteosarcoma and to extend the patient's life as much as possible.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Is there a cure for osteosarcoma?

Osteosarcoma is treatable, but it requires proper medical treatment. Currently, adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improves the five-year survival rate for osteosarcoma. The main treatment approach is still surgery as part of a comprehensive therapy. Specifically, the first step involves adequate preoperative chemotherapy, generally no fewer than six sessions over about eight weeks, or approximately two months. After this, patients often experience reduced pain, weight gain, improved positioning of the tumor, and a decrease in tumor size. Depending on the specific situation, a decision is made on the type of surgery to be performed—whether to amputate, preserve the limb, install a prosthetic, or use artificial bone as a replacement. Postoperative chemotherapy is usually also required to help ensure that the tumor does not recur and to increase the five-year or ten-year survival rate. Therefore, the current five-year survival rate for osteosarcoma has increased from the previous 40%-50% to about 80%. So, as long as one chooses the right hospital and the right treatment plan, and maintains confidence, osteosarcoma is usually treatable.

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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.

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
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Does osteosarcoma require amputation?

Do osteosarcomas require amputation? In the past, the likelihood of amputation for treating osteosarcoma was very high. However, currently, the rate of amputation is very low, and the limb-salvage rate is very high. This is due to a new chemotherapy protocol in medical practice, which involves initial chemotherapy followed by surgery, and then continued chemotherapy post-operatively. The limb-salvage rate with this treatment plan can reach about 75% to 80%. Therefore, currently, most osteosarcoma patients do not require amputation. Unlike the past, where amputation rates were very high, today's medical approach is very advanced, generally resulting in a very high rate of limb preservation for osteosarcoma patients.