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Osteogenic sarcoma

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Sarcoma called a malignant tumor non-epithelial origin. It develops from the mesenchyme (connective tissue primary). The sarcoma differs fundamentally from cancer, the Genesis of which is always associated with epithelial cells.


General information about osteosarcoma

Malignant cells osteogenic sarcoma (osteosarcoma) originate from bone tissue. In some tumors of this type are dominated by fibroplastic elements and others chondroblastoma.

For radiographic characteristics of osteosarcoma divided into such types:

  • osteolytic;
  • sclerotic (osteoliticescoy);
  • mixed.
This lesion is considered to be highly malignant, as it arises from the bone elements and features an active stream. Osteosarcoma differs from many other tumors for its ability to quickly give metastases.

This disease affects people of any age and gender. Most of the occurrence of osteosarcomas occurred in a period of 10-30 years. Most often, this lesion appears at the end of puberty. According to the available statistics men are exposed to it in 2 times more than women.

The main place of localization of osteosarcomas observed in these bones:

  • long tubular;
  • short and flat.

The bone of the legs is affected 5-6 times more frequently than upper limbs. About 80% of tumors of this type arise in the region of the knee joint. Often the tumor occurs in the tibia, fibula, pelvic, shoulder, elbow bones. Often observed, and the occurrence of these tumors in the area of shoulder girdle.

The typical place of appearance of osteosarcoma is metaepiphyseal the end of the long bone. Also it often occurs at an early age on metaphase bones. With the defeat of the femur the tumor most commonly affects the distal end. Almost 10% of all tumors of this type arise in the diaphysis.


The causes of osteosarcoma

This type of cancer occurs most frequently in very rapid growthbones. The majority of cases of such tumors is seen in children of high growth, which does not correspond to the age development. Osteosarcoma affects a growing part of the musculoskeletal system of man.

In some cases, osteosarcoma is a consequence of the injury. That is why it is so important to do x-rays of bones to diagnose a disease at an early stage.

One of the causes of this disease can become ionizing radiation facing children 12-16 years of age. This can occur in a hormonal imbalance that weakens the body of the child. The appearance of osteogenic sarcoma affected and those people who have such benign tumors as osteochondroma and infodrome.

The symptoms of osteosarcoma

The beginning of the disease to accurately determine extremely difficult. In osteosarcoma a symptom of the disease is very strong nocturnal pain in the affected bone that is not relieved by any of the traditional analgesics. The first clinical symptom of the sarcoma is the appearance of increasing size of tumor masses. With the spread of the tumor and involvement in the pathogenic process of other neighbouring tissues pain more and more intensified.

With the development of the disease revealed distinct thickening of the metaphyseal division of the affected bone. There has been a marked pastosity of the tissues, and the skin is crisp venous network. With the progression of osteosarcoma, the patient noted the contracture of the affected joint and increases lameness on the affected leg. The patient complains of sharp pain on palpation of the affected area of the bone.

In osteosarcoma celebrated its rapid expansion into the neighboring tissue. This tumor for a short period of time fills the intramedullary canal. When this occurs, the germination of neoplasms in the muscle tissue. Osteosarcoma provides a significant early hematogenous metastases. They can spread to the lungs and brain.


Diagnosis of the disease

Osteogenic sarcoma can be easily diagnosed by an x-ray of the bone. At the initial stage of development of tumors noted osteoporosis of the affected bone. In the picture marks the blurred contours of the tumor. At the initial stage of the disease characterized by the localization of the tumor in metaphase.

With the progression of osteosarcoma observed defectbone. For some tumors of this type are characteristic osteoliticescoy and proliferative processes in which there is a swelling of the detached periosteum. The appearance of osteosarcoma in children is often marked by periostitis needle that forms the spicules (a linear shadow of the bones).

Oncologist differencial osteosarcoma from other tumors such as eosinophilic granuloma, chondrosarcoma, cartilaginous exostosis, osteoblastoma.


Treatment of osteosarcoma

Treatment of osteosarcoma consists of the following stages:

  1. Preoperative chemotherapy aimed at suppressing metastases in the lung tissue. It is possible to achieve reduction of tumor size. In the course of chemotherapy the patient can assign the following drugs: high-dose Methotrexate, Ifosfamide, Adriablastin, Etoposide, Carboplatin, Cisplatin.

  2. Excision of the tumor, which often allows you to save a large part of the bone. Previously, doctors have resorted to extensive surgery during which the patient often amputated the tumor limb. Modern methods of treatment allow to perform sparing excision of tumors, in which only remove part of the bone. The remote site is replaced with a plastic or metal implant.

  3. Postoperative chemotherapy, taking into account the results obtained preoperative chemotherapy.

In some severe cases, when the tumor grows in neuro-vascular bundle, is a pathological fracture or the tumor is very large, doctors have to remove the affected limb. Modern methods of treatment allow to keep the bodies even in the presence of large metastases, for example in the lungs. They are simply removed surgically. In cases where surgery is not possible for any reason, the patient may be treated with radiation.

The use of modern approaches to the treatment of osteosarcoma, including various types of chemotherapy and surgery, can achieve very good results. Due to this, the survival rate of patients with this diagnosis every year only increases.