Early symptoms of osteosarcoma

Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
Updated on June 28, 2025
00:00
00:00

The early symptoms of osteosarcoma are generally not very obvious, manifesting only as occasional pain and discomfort around the joints, which can limit joint mobility. As the condition progresses, this intermittent pain becomes continuous. Additionally, the intensity of the pain gradually increases, and lumps may also appear, which typically cause pain when pressed. As the disease further advances, patients may also experience low-grade fever, anemia, and liver and kidney failure, eventually leading to pathological fractures. Therefore, for the treatment of osteosarcoma, early detection and early treatment are crucial for the best prognosis.

Other Voices

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
58sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
45sec home-news-image

The cause of osteosarcoma

At present, the causes of osteosarcoma are not yet clear, but it may be related to genetics, exposure to radioactive substances, and viral infections. It can also be secondary to other deformative osteitis and fibrous dysplasia of bone. Furthermore, some cases can also develop from other benign tumors, gradually degenerating into malignant tumors. Osteosarcoma commonly affects the long bones, mostly located at the metaphyseal ends, with fewer cases in the middle of the diaphysis. The tumor develops very rapidly, generally spreading gradually towards the ends of the bone, destroying the bone tissue, causing the tumor mass to quickly reach under the periosteum, and invading the neighboring muscle tissue outwardly.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
1min 28sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
49sec home-news-image

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.

doctor image
home-news-image
Written by Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
1min 25sec home-news-image

Why does osteosarcoma not hurt?

Osteosarcoma usually presents with pain, which is often severe, persistent, and most pronounced at night. The local skin temperature may also increase, accompanied by venous obstruction. It is a malignant tumor of the bone, most commonly located near the proximal part of the tibia or the distal part of the femur. The main symptom is pain, and a definite diagnosis can be made through radiographic examination, such as sunlight exposure, Codman's triangle, etc. In its early stages, osteosarcoma can metastasize. If there is no pain, it may be due to individual variations in the disease. However, the first symptoms of malignant bone tumors are usually pain and a palpable mass. Radiographic examinations will show changes. If osteosarcoma is confirmed and there is no pain, it could be related to the disease not having progressed to a more severe stage, possibly indicating an early stage. Early aggressive surgical treatment is recommended, such as limb-sparing surgery, devitalization and reimplantation, or prosthetic implantation. Another option is amputation. Osteosarcoma has a relatively high chance of metastasizing to the lungs; therefore, early surgery, early diagnosis, and rapid chemotherapy are essential, as these can significantly increase the five-year survival rate.