Is osteosarcoma bone cancer?

Written by Dai Ru

Orthopedics

Updated on January 15, 2025

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Osteosarcoma is a type of malignant tumor that originates from the bone. Bone cancer is a common term used by people to refer to bone tumors. The terms cancer and sarcoma are different mainly because of their different origins. Cancer primarily originates from epithelial tissue, such as liver cancer, lung cancer, etc. Because bones consist of mesenchymal cells, malignant tumors of the bone are called osteosarcomas, not bone cancer. Osteosarcomas commonly occur in children and adolescents and are a highly malignant type of bone tumor that require prompt treatment once diagnosed.

Other Voices

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin

Orthopedics

47sec

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Will osteosarcoma cause the skin to turn red?

Patients with osteosarcoma will not have red skin. The early symptoms of osteosarcoma are generally not obvious, primarily involving localized swelling, with pain around the joints leading to limited joint mobility. As the condition progresses, this pain may shift from intermittent to constant, and the severity of the pain will increase as the disease worsens. The second patient will exhibit a noticeable lump that can be felt; this lump is usually accompanied by significant tenderness. The third symptom is intermittent limping, caused by pain from the tumor during walking, which prevents the patient from bearing weight for extended periods. The fourth aspect involves systemic symptoms common to patients with tumors, such as anemia, mild fever, and even pathological fractures.

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Written by Guan Yu Hua

Orthopedic Surgery

1min 25sec

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What does osteosarcoma feel like to the touch?

Osteosarcoma is a malignant tumor that consumes bone and typically shows no symptoms in its early stages. By the time symptoms are recognized, it is usually in the mid to late stages. There might be localized masses; upon discovery of such masses, a visit to the hospital for diagnostic imaging is needed. Radiological examinations reveal characteristic signs such as sunburst appearance and Codman's triangle on X-rays. Further investigation with MRI or CT scans is necessary, followed by a biopsy for confirmation. During physical examination for this type of osteosarcoma, a localized mass may be found typically around the proximal tibia or distal femur, mainly around the metaphyseal ends. The mass may be accompanied by localized heat and pain, with nocturnal pain being more pronounced. Additionally, patients might show varying degrees of weight loss. Generally, osteosarcoma can be diagnosed through physical examination and radiological findings, followed by a confirmatory biopsy. Early stages require surgical intervention. Furthermore, osteosarcomas have a high rate of early pulmonary metastasis. Using extensive chemotherapy can improve patient survival time. With rapid advancements in chemotherapy, the five-year survival rate can reach about 50%.

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Written by Guan Jing Tao

Orthopedics

39sec

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Does osteosarcoma spread through blood?

As far as we know, osteosarcoma is not transmitted through blood or infectious. If osteosarcoma had such infectious characteristics, it would be transmitted in the same way as AIDS or other sexually transmitted diseases and would be classified as a contagious disease. However, there has been no notification or relevant guidelines to date indicating that osteosarcoma can be transmitted through blood. Therefore, normal contact with patients with osteosarcoma, or caring for patients with osteosarcoma, including sharing the same food or coming into contact with their blood, generally does not lead to the transmission or contraction of osteosarcoma.

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Written by Wang Cheng Lin

Orthopedics

50sec

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Does osteosarcoma require amputation?

Do osteosarcomas require amputation? In the past, the likelihood of amputation for treating osteosarcoma was very high. However, currently, the rate of amputation is very low, and the limb-salvage rate is very high. This is due to a new chemotherapy protocol in medical practice, which involves initial chemotherapy followed by surgery, and then continued chemotherapy post-operatively. The limb-salvage rate with this treatment plan can reach about 75% to 80%. Therefore, currently, most osteosarcoma patients do not require amputation. Unlike the past, where amputation rates were very high, today's medical approach is very advanced, generally resulting in a very high rate of limb preservation for osteosarcoma patients.

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Written by Li Jie

Orthopedics

42sec

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incidence of osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma, also known as osteogenic sarcoma, is a primary malignant tumor of the bone and has a relatively high incidence rate. Among primary bone tumors, the incidence of osteosarcoma is second only to plasma cell myeloma, ranking second. Osteosarcoma typically occurs in tubular bones, commonly affecting the rapidly growing metaphyseal regions. The distal femur, proximal tibia, and proximal humerus are the most frequently affected sites. Between 50%-70% of all cases occur around the knee joint. The common age range for this disease is between 10 to 20 years old, with a higher prevalence in males than in females.