What is the most common anatomical location of osteosarcoma?
Osteosarcoma most commonly happens in the long bones around the knee. Other sites for osteosarcoma include the upper leg, or thighbone, the lower leg, upper arm bone, or any bone in the body, including those in the pelvis, shoulder, and skull.
Where does osteosarcoma spread first?
Most often it spreads to the lungs, but it can also spread to other bones, the brain, or other organs. About 1 out of 5 osteosarcomas have spread already when they are first diagnosed. These cancers are harder to treat, but some can be cured if the metastases can be removed by surgery.
What is associated with osteosarcoma?
This syndrome is usually caused by abnormal changes in the REQL4 gene. Other rare inherited conditions, including Bloom syndrome, Werner syndrome, and Diamond-Blackfan anemia, have also been linked to an increased risk of osteosarcoma.
What can be mistaken for osteosarcoma?
Perhaps one of the most difficult diagnoses to miss is that of idiopathic myositis ossificans. In this condition, an individual may present with a rapidly growing painful mass. An X-ray will show rapid bone formation, which can look identical to a high-grade osteosarcoma.
What is the pathophysiology of osteosarcoma?
Osteosarcoma begins when a healthy bone cell develops changes in its DNA. A cell’s DNA contains the instructions that tell a cell what to do. The changes tell the cell to start making new bone when it isn’t needed. The result is a mass (tumor) of poorly formed bone cells that can invade and destroy healthy body tissue.
What are the warning signs of osteosarcoma?
What are the symptoms of osteosarcoma?
- Bone pain or tenderness.
- A mass or lump (tumor) that is warm and might be felt through your skin.
- Swelling and redness at the site of your tumor.
- Increased pain with lifting (if it affects your arm).
- Limping (if it affects your leg).
- Limited movement (if it affects a joint).
How many types of osteosarcoma are there?
There are 2 types of osteosarcoma. Each type of osteosarcoma has different subtypes. The type and subtype of osteosarcoma is determined by looking at the tumor cells through a microscope.
What is the most common type of osteosarcoma?
Intramedullary osteosarcoma – This type is the most common and accounts for nearly 80 percent of all osteosarcoma diagnoses. These osteosarcomas develop in the medullary cavity of a long bone, such as the femur.
Does osteosarcoma show up in blood tests?
Blood tests are not needed to diagnose osteosarcoma, but they may be helpful once a diagnosis is made. For example, high levels of chemicals in the blood such as alkaline phosphatase and lactate dehydrogenase (LDH) can suggest that the osteosarcoma may be more advanced.
Is osteosarcoma painful to touch?
Osteosarcomas can cause pain. If there are tumors in the bones of your arm, for example, it may be painful to lift things. If the tumors are in the bones of your legs, it may cause limping. However, osteosarcomas can also be painless.
What bones are affected by osteosarcoma?
Osteosarcoma most often affects the long bones, such as those in the arms and legs. It usually occurs near the ends of the bones where the fastest growth is taking place (growth plates). The bones and areas most often affected include: Femur (thigh bone) near the knee. Tibia (shin bone) near the knee. Humerus (upper arm bone) near the shoulder.
Where does osteosarcoma usually start?
In children, teens, and young adults, osteosarcoma usually starts in areas where the bone is growing quickly, such as near the ends of the leg or arm bones: Most tumors develop in the bones around the knee, either in the lower part of the thigh bone (distal femur) or the upper part of the shinbone (proximal tibia).
What is sarcoma of the bone?
A sarcoma is a type of cancer that develops in connective tissue, such as bone, cartilage, or muscle. A sarcoma that starts in the bones is called an osteosarcoma, or osteogenic sarcoma. Osteosarcoma most often affects the long bones, such as those in the arms and legs.
What type of cancer is osteosarcoma?
Osteosarcoma. Osteosarcoma is a type of cancer that develops in the bones. It usually affects the long bones, such as those in the arms and legs. Osteosarcoma most often affects pre-teens and teens; the average age at diagnosis is 15.