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Osteosarcoma
Is chondrosarcoma cancer?
Chondrosarcoma is broadly cancer, but in medical terms, we wouldn’t necessarily phrase it that way; we simply describe chondrosarcoma as a type of malignant tumor, and currently, its treatment outcomes are not very good. Generally, when we talk about cancer, we’re referring to malignant tumors that originate from epithelial tissue, including cancers like stomach cancer, lung cancer, colon cancer, and liver cancer, which all derive from epithelial tissues. However, because chondrosarcoma originates from mesenchymal tissue, which includes muscle, cartilage, blood vessels, and nerves, malignant tumors that occur in these areas are usually called sarcomas. Sarcomas are definitely malignant, but to strictly call them cancer is not particularly precise.
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.
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.
Is there a cure for osteosarcoma?
Osteosarcoma is treatable, but it requires proper medical treatment. Currently, adjuvant chemotherapy significantly improves the five-year survival rate for osteosarcoma. The main treatment approach is still surgery as part of a comprehensive therapy. Specifically, the first step involves adequate preoperative chemotherapy, generally no fewer than six sessions over about eight weeks, or approximately two months. After this, patients often experience reduced pain, weight gain, improved positioning of the tumor, and a decrease in tumor size. Depending on the specific situation, a decision is made on the type of surgery to be performed—whether to amputate, preserve the limb, install a prosthetic, or use artificial bone as a replacement. Postoperative chemotherapy is usually also required to help ensure that the tumor does not recur and to increase the five-year or ten-year survival rate. Therefore, the current five-year survival rate for osteosarcoma has increased from the previous 40%-50% to about 80%. So, as long as one chooses the right hospital and the right treatment plan, and maintains confidence, osteosarcoma is usually treatable.
Symptoms of osteosarcoma
The common symptoms of osteosarcoma include, first, pain which is often persistent, typically occurring at the distal femur, proximal tibia, and proximal humerus. The characteristic of this pain is that it worsens at night, more severe than during the day. Second, there is local swelling usually near joints, particularly at the three aforementioned common sites. The skin over the swelling often becomes warm and may even show redness, and some patients may have dilated surface veins. The swelling can frequently cause dysfunction of nearby joints, or restricted function. Third, systemic symptoms primarily include a persistent wasting syndrome, known as cachexia. Fourth, osteosarcomas can weaken the bone's load-bearing capacity and strength following cortical bone involvement, eventually leading to pathological fractures. Therefore, the main symptoms of osteosarcoma are localized pain, local swellings, systemic manifestations of cachexia, or pathological fractures.
Can osteosarcoma be detected by X-ray?
Osteosarcoma can be detected with an X-ray, which is a very important method for diagnosing osteosarcoma. Since osteosarcoma typically comes in three types—osteoblastic, osteolytic, and mixed—the appearances on the X-rays are generally different. Osteolytic osteosarcoma mainly involves bone destruction, osteoblastic is characterized by bone regeneration, and the mixed type has both bone destruction and regeneration. Secondly, osteosarcoma primarily erodes the bone quality, and the periosteal reaction is very apparent. Typical osteosarcomas often show signs like Codman's triangle or the sunburst appearance. Therefore, if symptoms such as redness and increased temperature of the skin, along with a bony lump, occur around the distal femur, proximal tibia, or proximal humerus, it is best to first go to the hospital for an X-ray. X-rays are currently the most economical and necessary diagnostic tool for osteosarcoma.
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.
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.
Osteosarcoma Causes
Osteosarcoma is the most common malignant tumor of the bone and typically presents without symptoms in its early stages. The cause of osteosarcoma is unknown, and it often goes undetected until it has reached a moderate or advanced stage. It commonly develops at the distal end of the femur near the knee joint, at the proximal end of the tibia, or at the proximal end of the humerus, primarily at the end of the growth plate. The pain associated with osteosarcoma is usually persistent, especially severe at night, and can lead to symptoms such as anemia or general wasting. The tumor's surface may be warm to the touch, with prominent veins visible, and radiographic imaging might show a Codman's triangle, indicative of sunlight-like radiation patterns, as well as bone destruction and clear periosteal reaction. Surgical treatment is typically pursued, with amputation being the most common procedure, though limb-sparing surgeries are possible if the tumor is detected early enough. Some cases metastasize, most commonly to the lungs, requiring continued high-dose chemotherapy post-surgery to prolong survival. Generally, the five-year survival rate for osteosarcoma can exceed 50% with early diagnosis and treatment. The chances of survival heavily depend on the individual’s constitution, the timing of tumor detection, and the surgical intervention. The exact causes of osteosarcoma are unclear, and the potential for metastasis complicates treatment. Therefore, early surgical intervention is crucial for improving survival rates and enabling patients to maintain a normal life and work activities.
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.