Osteosarcoma

Overview

Experienced medical staff at Mayo Clinic evaluate and treat adults and children with osteosarcoma, a rare cancer that develops in bone tissue. Each year more than 25 patients with osteosarcoma receive efficient, coordinated treatment from a multidisciplinary team of specialists that include pediatric oncologists, medical oncologists, pediatric surgeons, radiation oncologists, orthopedic oncologists (orthopedic surgeons who specialize in bone and soft tissue tumors), vascular surgeons and rehabilitation experts. In addition, Mayo clinician researchers are dedicated to advancing the treatment of osteosarcoma. The National Cancer Institute has designated the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center as a comprehensive cancer center in recognition of its superior depth and breadth of capabilities.

Diagnosis

Osteosarcoma tumors are often found when an individual experiences pain or swelling in a bone or joint that does not go away completely. For suspected cases of osteosarcoma, physicians at Mayo Clinic evaluate the tumor using imaging studies such as X-rays, CT and MRI scans, and bone scans. To diagnose osteosarcoma, the doctor must remove a small sample of the suspected tumor for examination by a pathologist (biopsy). The pathologist views the sample under a microscope to determine whether the tumor is malignant and to identify the exact type.

Treatment Options

At Mayo Clinic, patients with osteosarcoma at Mayo Clinic generally receive a combination of cancer-fighting drugs (chemotherapy) followed by surgery on the tumor. Mayo specialists use the latest advances in surgery and chemotherapy to treat the disease. Many limb-salvage techniques are available. In about 90 percent of osteosarcoma cases of the arm or leg, the limb can be saved. Rehabilitation specialists help patients regain use of affected limbs. Clinical trials related to osteosarcoma are available at Mayo Clinic. Read more about treatment for osteosarcoma.

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• Treatment of Children & Adolescents

About Osteosarcoma

Bone cancer is very rare. Around 2,000 cases are diagnosed in the United States each year. The most common type, accounting for 35 percent of bone cancer cases, is osteosarcoma, a tumor that develops from cells that form bone. Most often affected are the large bones in the lower extremity (femur and tibia) and the upper arm bone (humerus), but osteosarcoma can occur in any bone. Although most osteosarcomas begin in bone, a small percentage start in a non-bony area. These tumors are called extraskeletal osteosarcomas. If the tumor is found in one location and has not spread to other parts of the body, the cure rate is 65 to 75 percent. Osteosarcoma is most prevalent in people between the ages of 10 and 30, but can occur at any age.