Osteosarcoma is a type of cancer.

Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
Updated on January 22, 2025
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Osteosarcoma is a relatively common type of malignant bone tumor in clinical practice. It mainly occurs near the ends of the humerus, including the area around the head of the humerus, and at the distal end of the femur, near the femoral condyles, as well as the proximal tibia, close to the tibial plateau. These are its common sites. It predominantly affects teenagers, generally those under 18 years of age. The main symptoms include: firstly, persistent and worsening pain that gradually intensifies and does not alleviate, with the notable characteristic being that the pain is more severe at night than during the day; secondly, the appearance of spindle-shaped tumors around the joints, particularly at the three aforementioned common sites, often accompanied by redness, warmth, pain in the superficial skin, and even prominent superficial veins; thirdly, osteosarcoma is a type of malignant tumor, classified as grade 2B among malignant tumors. Its main feature, apart from local symptoms, is its propensity for metastasis, with the lungs being the most likely site of metastasis.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
1min home-news-image

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 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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Osteosarcoma diagnostic methods

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 Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
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Can osteosarcoma be cured?

Osteosarcoma is a malignant tumor of the bone, commonly occurring in adolescents and young adults, primarily near the proximal end of the tibia, the distal ancient end, or near the proximal end of the humerus, most frequently seen at the end of the bone shaft. In the early stages, there are no symptoms, and once detected, it is usually in the middle to late stages. An X-ray examination can be used for diagnosis, often showing a Codman's triangle or a sunburst pattern. Osteosarcoma generally needs early detection and treatment. If a primary lesion is present, surgical treatment can be pursued, including procedures such as resection with inactivation and reimplantation or limb-sparing surgery with a prosthesis. Another option is amputation, followed by extensive chemotherapy. The likelihood of osteosarcoma spreading to the lungs is very high. In recent years, with early diagnostic physical examinations and the rapid development of chemotherapy, the five-year survival rate for osteosarcoma can reach 50%.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
1min 19sec home-news-image

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%.