All information given here is of general nature only, a tumor therapy always belongs in the hands of an experienced oncologist!
Synonyms
Bone sarcoma, osteogenic sarcoma
Definition
Osteosarcoma is a malignant bone tumor that belongs to the group of primarily osteogenic (= bone-forming) malignant (= malignant) tumors. Statistical surveys show that osteosarcoma is the most common malignant bone tumor. In addition, an increase in the incidence of the disease in the growth age could be determined, but adults can also fall ill with the disease.
Osteosarcomas tend to form metastases at an early stage. With regard to the localization of an osteosarcoma, it was found that growth joints of long tubular bones, such as ulna and radius, are typically affected. The spinal column of the knee (= 50% of all osteosarcomas) and hip joints etc.
may also be affected. In the course of tissue examinations (= histological examinations) it was found out that osteosarcomas consist of so-called polymorphic bone-forming cells and. Osteosarcomas are – as mentioned above – malignant tumors: There are different subgroups of an osteosarcoma.
Depending on their location or origin, the following can be found: In the course of histological examinations, it has been determined that in the case of an existing disease on the osteosarcoma, bone cells exist which can no longer produce the basic bone substance (bone calcium). Such so-called tumor cells have the property to spread. They do not respect cell boundaries.
As already mentioned in the definition, osteosarcomas occur preferentially in the growth cleft. About 50% of all diagnosed osteosarcomas are located in the area of the knee joint. Other localizations can be: ulna, radius, hip joint, spine, … Osteosarcomas tend to metastasize.
The formation of metastases (= colonization of other areas of the body with tumor cells) is particularly frequent in the area of the lung or in the lymph nodes. Colonization of the lymph nodes is much less frequent. If the disease is detected early enough, metastasis is avoidable.
The symptoms in the early stage of the disease are initially not very indicative, but due to the radical growth of an osteosarcoma, symptoms such as (severe) pain and swelling appear. These symptoms must be differentiated by differential diagnosis. Often, the first suspicion is that it is an inflammation of the bone (osteomyelitis).
X-ray examinations can be performed to make a diagnosis. In addition, possible metastases can be detected by a 3-phase scintigraphy. This diagnostic procedure is used in particular to check the success after chemotherapy or for follow-up examinations (exclusion of recurrences).
CT is also frequently used. With the help of a CT, the extent of the tumor can be assessed. Especially after chemotherapy, angiography (= X-ray diagnostic imaging of the (blood) vessels after injection of an X-ray contrast medium) can also be performed.
To determine whether the tumor is malignant or not, tissue is removed and examined in a biopsy. The therapy is usually divided into two phases: This two-phase therapy significantly increases the prognosis of a patient. With exclusively surgical therapy, the probability of recovery was (only) 20%.
In the corresponding section, the form of therapy will be discussed in more detail. It is currently still unclear which factors promote the occurrence of osteosarcoma. As with almost all other bone tumors, hormonal and growth-related factors are suspected to be the triggering factors.
Rarely does an osteosarcoma develop from Paget’s disease, or after radiotherapy or chemotherapy of another existing disease. However, statistical surveys have shown an increased likelihood of osteosarcoma development following retinoblastoma (tumor in the eye in children). The prognosis cannot be formulated in a generalized manner.
The prognosis for osteosarcoma is always dependent on many individual factors, such as time of diagnosis, initial tumor size, localization, metastasis, response to chemotherapy, extent of tumor removal, etc. It can be said, however, that a five-year survival rate of about 60% can be achieved with the modified form of therapy (see above).
- The osteogenic sarcoma that originates from the bone.
- Osteosarcomas with a tendency to ossification or the formation of osteoid tissue (= osteoidsacrom)
- The chemotherapeutic pretreatment
- The surgical removal of the tumor
