Symptoms of osteosarcoma

Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
Updated on September 11, 2024
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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.

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Written by Guan Yu Hua
Orthopedic Surgery
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What is the basis for the diagnosis of osteosarcoma?

Let's briefly describe osteosarcoma, which is a malignant tumor of the bone, most commonly found in adolescents and young adults, typically occurring near the proximal end of the tibia, the distal end of the femur, or the proximal end of the humerus, mainly growing at the epiphyseal ends. In the early stages, patients show no symptoms, with the most common symptom being pain, usually discovered in the middle to late stages. This pain tends to be persistent and is most pronounced at night. Some patients may also have a local mass. Osteosarcomas are highly prone to early lung metastases. Additionally, the surface skin temperature may increase, veins may become distended, and there may be a presence of cachexia as the disease progresses, leading to severe thinness and weakness in the body. The primary diagnostic basis is radiographic examination, which might show unique signs such as Codman’s triangle under sun-ray exposure, indicative of osteosarcoma. If the radiographic signs are not typical, further differentiation can be done using CT scans or MRI. The most crucial matter is surgical biopsy for a definitive diagnosis, mainly based on the postoperative pathology. Intraoperative measures like cryosurgery can be performed. Upon discovery, limb amputation is generally recommended, although limb-sparing surgeries can be considered, involving techniques like resection followed by reimplantation or prosthetic implantation. Overall, the prognosis is typically poor, but with the rapid advancement in chemotherapy, the five-year survival rate can improve somewhat, generally around 50%.

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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.

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Written by Na Hong Wei
Orthopedics
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What are the symptoms of osteosarcoma?

The main symptom of osteosarcoma is localized pain, primarily at the distal end of the femur, the proximal end of the tibia, and the proximal end of the humerus. This pain tends to worsen continuously, with nighttime pain often more severe than during the day, which is a significant characteristic of osteosarcoma. The second symptom is the presence of a local mass, which is often spindle-shaped and generally located near a joint. This mass often leads to limited joint mobility, and the skin over the mass typically has a high temperature. Sometimes, it may also be accompanied by visible swelling of superficial veins. The third symptom involves systemic cachexia, which includes unexplained weight loss, generalized weakness, and even an anemic condition. The fourth point pertains to osteolytic osteosarcoma, which often leads to bone destruction, reduced bone strength, and consequently, even minor external forces can cause fractures. These are called pathological fractures. Thus, the symptoms of osteosarcoma generally include these four points.

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Written by Cheng Bin
Orthopedics
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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 Peng Li Bo
Oncology
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The difference between sarcoma and osteosarcoma

The relationship between sarcoma and osteosarcoma is very simple; it is a relationship of containment where sarcoma includes osteosarcoma. Simply put, the concept of sarcoma is broader, and osteosarcoma is a subtype under it. Sarcoma itself also includes malignant tumors occurring in blood vessels, fat, nerves, and muscles, such as angiosarcoma, liposarcoma, rhabdomyosarcoma, and leiomyosarcoma, and, of course, osteosarcoma. However, both sarcoma and osteosarcoma are malignant tumors, and it's important to clarify this concept. Moreover, osteosarcoma is more common in young people.