Osteosarcoma: Cancer and Tumor
Abstract
Osteosarcoma is a primary malignant tumor of bone that is characterized by the production of osteoid or immature bone by the malignant cells [8]. While it is a rare disease on the whole, it is one of the most common types of cancer in children and adolescents [3, 8]. Because it affects most patients during growth spurts in teen years, clinical presentations are many times diagnosed late due to parents and physicians attributing the pains to growing pains or athletic sprains [3]. Early detection and administration of chemotherapies lower the risk of metastasis and stage of the disease, which in turn make treatment less drastic and more effective [3,6, 7]. The prognosis and survival rate of patients has dramatically increased with the aid of chemotherapies and radiotherapies [6,7].
Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma is the most common type of primary bone cancer, and the fifth most common type of cancer in adolescents [3, 8]. It is a bone tumor that can occur in any bone, but most frequently occurs in the long bones of the arms and legs near the growth plates. The most common sites are distal femur, the proximal tibia, and the proximal humerus (See Figure 1). Other tumor locations are the skull or jaw and hip bones. At the time of diagnosis 15-20% of patients have detectable metastases that have spread to the lungs or other bones [7]. Unlike secondary bone cancers, it is one of the few that begins in the bones and sometimes metastasize to other parts of the body, usually the lungs or other bones [6]. In fact, the most common cause of mortality derived from osteosarcoma is caused by pulmonary metastatic disease [3](See Figure 2). It is believed that osteosarcoma arises from primitive mesenchymal bone-forming cells, or osteoblasts, and most commonly affects adolescents between the ages of 10 and 25, who are experiencing growth spurts [3, 6, 7]. Boys and girls have a similar incidence of this tumor until late adolescence, at which time boys (with a ratio
Osteosarcoma is a primary malignant tumor of bone that is characterized by the production of osteoid or immature bone by the malignant cells [8]. While it is a rare disease on the whole, it is one of the most common types of cancer in children and adolescents [3, 8]. Because it affects most patients during growth spurts in teen years, clinical presentations are many times diagnosed late due to parents and physicians attributing the pains to growing pains or athletic sprains [3]. Early detection and administration of chemotherapies lower the risk of metastasis and stage of the disease, which in turn make treatment less drastic and more effective [3,6, 7]. The prognosis and survival rate of patients has dramatically increased with the aid of chemotherapies and radiotherapies [6,7].
Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma is the most common type of primary bone cancer, and the fifth most common type of cancer in adolescents [3, 8]. It is a bone tumor that can occur in any bone, but most frequently occurs in the long bones of the arms and legs near the growth plates. The most common sites are distal femur, the proximal tibia, and the proximal humerus (See Figure 1). Other tumor locations are the skull or jaw and hip bones. At the time of diagnosis 15-20% of patients have detectable metastases that have spread to the lungs or other bones [7]. Unlike secondary bone cancers, it is one of the few that begins in the bones and sometimes metastasize to other parts of the body, usually the lungs or other bones [6]. In fact, the most common cause of mortality derived from osteosarcoma is caused by pulmonary metastatic disease [3](See Figure 2). It is believed that osteosarcoma arises from primitive mesenchymal bone-forming cells, or osteoblasts, and most commonly affects adolescents between the ages of 10 and 25, who are experiencing growth spurts [3, 6, 7]. Boys and girls have a similar incidence of this tumor until late adolescence, at which time boys (with a ratio
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