Can late-stage osteosarcoma be cured?

Written by Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
Updated on March 24, 2025
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For osteosarcoma in its late stages, it often metastasizes to other organs, with the majority of cases involving lung metastasis. In such cases, conservative treatment can be applied. However, if surgery is an option, it is the best approach as it can be complemented with postoperative chemotherapy and radiotherapy to extend the patient’s survival time. If there is distant metastasis and the body is in poor condition, unable to withstand surgery, then only conservative treatment and nutritional support are viable, along with the use of painkillers. In late stages, when the patient cannot tolerate surgery, only conservative treatment is available with no other alternatives. Typically, the conditions are divided into three stages. By stage three, there is usually lung metastasis. This stage often involves T which signifies intracompartmental or extracompartmental growth—T2 indicating extracompartmental, typically a marker of an aggressive tumor. Then M represents metastasis, with 0 for none and 1 for presence. So, in cases where distant metastasis occurs, it generally corresponds to stage three, phase B, which involves extracompartmental invasive metastasis. In such cases, even surgery provides poor outcomes. Early detection and treatment are best. If it progresses to later or final stages, treatment is often deemed unnecessary, limited to conservative management, as surgical outcomes are poor, and metastasis may occur elsewhere.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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How is osteosarcoma diagnosed?

Currently, the diagnosis of osteosarcoma in clinical settings primarily relies on a combination of clinical symptoms, imaging studies, and pathological findings. Clinically, osteosarcomas commonly occur in the distal femur, proximal tibia, and lower end of the humerus, manifesting as localized persistent pain, nocturnal pain, and swelling, often accompanied by superficial venous engorgement and increased skin temperature. Systemic symptoms of cachexia may appear, and even pathological fractures. Imaging is indispensable, revealing osteoblastic, osteolytic, or mixed osteolytic lesions, usually with a pronounced periosteal reaction, Codman's triangle (a common sign of malignancy), or sunburst patterns. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is very important for diagnosing bone tumors as it can indicate the tumor's boundaries and the extent of erosion. Additionally, PET-CT and radioactive isotope scanning are considered crucial for tumor diagnosis. Pathological examination is currently regarded as the gold standard for diagnosing osteosarcoma. This involves a biopsy, usually taking a small part of the tumor for examination from a molecular biology perspective. However, when performing a biopsy, it is important to note two things: first, it is preferable to take the biopsy intraoperatively; second, if there is no plan for systematic treatment of osteosarcoma, it is best not to proceed with a biopsy to avoid potentially accelerating the spread or even hastening metastasis. Therefore, the diagnosis of osteosarcoma must be approached with caution, requiring a combination of clinical symptoms, necessary auxiliary examinations, and pathological analysis.

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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 Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
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Is a fracture in osteosarcoma very dangerous?

Osteosarcoma is a malignant tumor of the bone, commonly found in adolescents and young adults, primarily occurring near the proximal tibia, distal femur, and proximal humerus, mostly at the metaphyseal ends. The tumor itself can lead to bone destruction and periosteal reactions. Pathological fractures may occur, which are frequently observed clinically. If a fracture occurs, radiographic examination can generally detect it, often showing a Codman's triangle or sunburst pattern. Early detection and treatment are crucial. Once a pathological fracture is observed, it typically indicates a middle to late stage of the disease, with a particularly high likelihood of lung metastasis. The situation with just a pathological fracture is quite severe, and unlike other fractures that might be managed with steel plates or intramedullary pins, treatment here is conservative, possibly requiring amputation, though limb-sparing approaches may also be necessary. Detecting the condition early, before distant metastasis, and combining treatment with radiotherapy or chemotherapy, can result in a five-year survival rate above 50%. The threat posed by pathological fractures alone is significant, and amputation may be necessary, with chemotherapy likely required post-surgery.

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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 Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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Is osteosarcoma highly malignant?

First of all, it is certain that osteosarcoma is very malignant. Once osteosarcoma is detected, it is necessary to actively prepare for surgery, rule out surgical contraindications, and then proceed with surgical treatment. During the surgery, efforts should be made to perform an extended resection, and if necessary, amputation may be required. After the surgery, the excised specimen must be sent for pathological examination to determine the pathological type. Then, based on the examination results, effective radiotherapy and chemotherapy should be chosen to control the possibility of recurrence or metastasis of osteosarcoma and to extend the patient's life as much as possible.