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Complications of Osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is a malignant bone cancer. It is the most common type of bone cancer among young people, with 15 being the average age when this condition is diagnosed. This condition most often affects the shin or thigh near the knee or the upper arm near the shoulder. In addition to common cancer symptoms, osteosarcoma has a number of complications associated with it.

  1. Symptoms

    • Common symptoms of osteosarcoma include tenderness or swelling around the tumor site, pain in the bone and limited mobility of the affected limb. If the tumor is in the leg the patient may limp. If the tumor is in the arm there will typically be pain involved in lifting. The bone may break while going through a routine motion.

    Diagnosis

    • If a patient complains of the symptoms common to osteosarcoma the attending physician may request blood tests or X-rays of the suspected tumor area. She may also order a biopsy for diagnostic purposes. If it is determined that osteosarcoma exists, there may also be the need for CT scans and bone scans to determine if the cancer has spread to other areas of the body.

    Treatment

    • Once osteosarcoma is diagnosed, typically after a biopsy, the patient usually undergoes a series of chemotherapy treatments that are designed to shrink the tumor and to arrest the spread of cancer cells to other parts of the body. Once the patient has recovered sufficient strength surgery will usually be performed to remove whatever remains of the tumor.

    Complications

    • As long as the osteosarcoma is confined to the localized area the prognosis for recovery is quite good. However, there are some serious complications that can attach to this condition and its treatments. Chemotherapy affects different people in different ways and can have serious repercussions. Although in most cases the tumor can be removed successful while saving the affected limb, sometimes amputation is a necessity.

    Severe Complications

    • The most severe complication is pulmonary metastasis, where the cancer spreads to the lungs. In most cases, when the cancer has spread to the lungs, it has also entered the blood stream. This can be extremely difficult to treat and may result in death.

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