Do osteosarcomas hurt?

Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
Updated on April 03, 2025
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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.

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
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How long is the latent period of osteosarcoma?

In clinical practice, there is no such thing as a latency period for malignant bone tumors, because these tumors progress very quickly. So, if you experience symptoms such as swelling and pain in the affected limb, if you can feel a mass, and if the pain severely impacts your daily life, you should promptly go to a hospital to get an imaging test done to determine whether a bone tumor is present. Only through imaging and accurate diagnosis can early diagnosis and treatment be achieved, which is the best treatment approach for osteosarcoma. Therefore, in clinical practice, there is no concept of a latency period for malignant bone tumors.

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
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How to diagnose osteosarcoma?

For the examination of osteosarcoma, the first step is to take an X-ray, which can show changes in the bone quality. At the same time, it is necessary to perform a CT scan or MRI to clarify the nature of this bone tumor and its extent, or whether there is any distant metastasis. The third method is a nuclear bone scan, which mainly detects whether there are any early distant metastatic lesions. Of course, in clinical practice, the gold standard for diagnosing osteosarcoma relies on the examination of living tissue. That is, to perform a surgery, carry out a minor operation to obtain a little tissue from the bone tumor, and then send it for pathological examination to determine the nature of the tumor. This is the gold standard for diagnosing osteosarcoma.

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
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early symptoms of osteosarcoma

The early symptoms of osteosarcoma mainly include the following types: First, pain - patients will experience obvious pain in the affected limb. Second, lumps - lumps can be felt on the affected limb, accompanying significant tenderness. The growth rate of such lumps is directly related to your pathology and the course of your disease; the more severe your condition, the larger the lump. Third, limping - limping is caused by chronic pain in the affected limb. Over time, there may also be limited joint mobility and muscle atrophy in the affected limb. Fourth, symptoms such as fever, weight loss, and anemia may occur. Furthermore, in the middle and late stages of osteosarcoma, pathological fractures might occur.

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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Can osteosarcoma be detected on an X-ray?

First of all, it should be noted that osteosarcoma can be detected in patients through imaging tests. For example, a localized MRI can clearly diagnose osteosarcoma. Once detected, it is necessary to actively pursue symptomatic treatment. Surgical removal is usually the main treatment method, involving the excision of the affected area. If necessary, the excision may need to be extended, or amputation may be required. After surgery, the excised specimen should be sent for pathological examination. Based on the results of the pathology test, further radiation therapy or chemotherapy can be completely sufficient. The results are generally quite good for most patients.

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin
Orthopedics
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Causes of Osteosarcoma Formation

The causes of osteosarcoma formation are currently unclear in clinical practice, but they are somewhat related to environmental factors and genetic changes, including heredity. If triggered by external viral infections or physical and chemical influences, osteosarcomas may develop. Likewise, genetic mutations and cellular mutations might also be associated with the formation of osteosarcomas. Osteosarcomas originate from mesenchymal cells and can grow rapidly; passing through a cartilaginous stage, they directly and indirectly form bone-like and bone tissues, damaging the bone structure, which leads to severe consequences.