Osteosarcoma bone metastasis symptoms

Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
Updated on September 03, 2024
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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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incidence of osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma, also known as osteogenic sarcoma, is a primary malignant tumor of the bone and has a relatively high incidence rate. Among primary bone tumors, the incidence of osteosarcoma is second only to plasma cell myeloma, ranking second. Osteosarcoma typically occurs in tubular bones, commonly affecting the rapidly growing metaphyseal regions. The distal femur, proximal tibia, and proximal humerus are the most frequently affected sites. Between 50%-70% of all cases occur around the knee joint. The common age range for this disease is between 10 to 20 years old, with a higher prevalence in males than in females.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Is osteosarcoma sensitive to chemotherapy?

Osteosarcoma is relatively sensitive to chemotherapy. Currently, the treatment of malignant tumors is primarily a comprehensive approach centered around surgery. However, the treatment of osteosarcoma should start with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, which involves administering a certain number of chemotherapy sessions, generally around six, before surgery. After chemotherapy, the tumor itself shrinks in size, pain is reduced, and the patient's cachexia also improves. At this point, choosing an optimal surgical method based on the tumor’s location and size becomes feasible, whether it involves amputation, limb-salvage, or other treatment methods such as the implantation of prosthetics. Postoperative chemotherapy is then administered. With this approach, there is a significant improvement in the five-year survival rate. Therefore, the treatment of osteosarcoma is inseparable from chemotherapy, requiring both preoperative and postoperative chemotherapy, making osteosarcoma quite sensitive to chemotherapy overall.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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Postoperative recurrence symptoms of osteosarcoma

Symptoms of recurrent osteosarcoma after surgery are generally consistent with the symptoms before the initial surgery. The main symptoms include: Firstly, localized pain, which is persistent, progressive, and does not alleviate, including pain that worsens at night. Secondly, localized swelling, which usually occurs around the surgical site if limb-sparing surgery was performed, or at the stump if amputation was done. Thirdly, the appearance of systemic cachexia and symptoms of metastasis. Systemic cachexia typically includes weight loss, anemia, fatigue, and loss of appetite. For osteosarcoma, metastasis primarily targets the lungs, where numerous cancerous shadows can be detected. Thus, the main recurrent symptoms of osteosarcoma after surgery include pain, swelling, and cachexia.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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What is osteosarcoma?

Osteosarcoma is a type of malignant tumor that occurs in the bones, generally classified as stage IIb. Common sites for osteosarcoma include the distal part of the bone, the proximal tibia, and the proximal humerus. It most commonly affects adolescents. Clinically, it primarily presents as persistent pain, including nighttime pain. Swelling and limited joint function typically occur around the common sites. Additionally, there are general symptoms associated with cachexia, such as malnutrition, anemia, mild or high fever, or weight loss. Fourthly, it is very prone to causing pathological fractures. Many osteosarcoma patients seek medical attention due to these fractures. Thus, osteosarcoma is a serious malignancy in the bones with a generally poor prognosis. Diagnosis and treatment of osteosarcoma are crucial; upon confirmation, timely treatment is necessary. The primary treatment approach is a combination therapy centered around surgery, typically involving preoperative chemotherapy, followed by surgical treatment and postoperative chemotherapy. Currently, the five-year survival rate for osteosarcoma has significantly improved, reaching approximately 70% to over 80%.

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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.