The main metastasis pathways of osteosarcoma

Written by Kuang Tao

Orthopedics

Updated on October 28, 2024

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Osteosarcoma is a primary tumor of bone tissue. The tumor can metastasize through the bloodstream, lymphatic system, or nearby tissue. The most common site of metastasis for osteosarcoma clinically is to the lungs. Therefore, it is often recommended that patients undergo chest X-rays or even chest CT scans to detect any metastasis to the lungs.

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Written by Na Hong Wei

Orthopedics

1min 19sec

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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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Written by Cheng Bin

Orthopedics

40sec

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Osteosarcoma is malignant.

Regarding whether osteosarcoma is benign or malignant, it is certain that osteosarcoma is a malignant tumor with a very high degree of malignancy. Once osteosarcoma is definitively diagnosed, aggressive treatment is necessary. Surgery is the main treatment approach, aiming to perform as extensive a resection as possible, or amputation may be required when necessary. After surgery, the resected specimen must be sent for pathological examination. Based on the type of pathology, the next step in treatment, either radiotherapy or chemotherapy, will be determined to minimize the recurrence of osteosarcoma, as a recurrence can endanger the patient's life.

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Written by Na Hong Wei

Orthopedics

1min 10sec

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What is osteosarcoma?

Firstly, osteosarcoma is a common type of malignant tumor, characterized by a mechanism that produces bone-like tissue. It has multiple subtypes and can also develop into a secondary osteosarcoma. Secondly, it commonly occurs in adolescents. Thirdly, it typically affects the proximal femur, distal tibia, and proximal humerus. Fourthly, common osteosarcomas are generally spindle-shaped, often located near joints. The surface may have elevated skin temperature and sometimes superficial vein distension is apparent. It often involves the entire bone, including the periosteum, cortical bone, and bone cavity. Generally, the tumor appears as a very fine greyish-white or brownish-red fish-flesh-like change. Osteosarcoma is a malignant tumor and is particularly prone to lung metastasis. According to tumor staging, it is at least stage IIB, indicating that it should be detected, diagnosed, and treated early. The earlier the treatment, the better the outcome and the higher the five-year survival rate.

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Written by Na Hong Wei

Orthopedics

1min 17sec

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Is osteosarcoma serious?

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 Wang Cheng Lin

Orthopedics

49sec

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What are the symptoms of osteosarcoma?

Symptoms of Osteosarcoma: The first is pain at the site of occurrence. This pain may be intermittent and not very pronounced in the early stages. As the condition progresses, the severity of the pain gradually increases, transitioning from intermittent to persistent pain; The second is the formation of a lump. You can feel a lump on the limb with your hand, and this lump is clearly tender to the touch; The third is limping, which is mainly caused by the pain in the limb; The fourth is the most common systemic symptoms. Patients with this malignant tumor will exhibit fever, weight loss, anemia, and pathological fractures. These are the main symptoms of osteosarcoma currently observed in clinical settings.