Osteosarcoma: diagnosis and treatment

Abstract

Osteosarcoma is an aggressive and malignant bone tumor most commonly appearing around the knee and shoulder in adolescents and young adults. The tumors can be generally divided into those arising inside the bone and those arising on the surface of the bone. The course of the disease and its prognosis can be different. Multidisciplinary approach in diagnosis and treatment is mandatory. Surgical resection with wide margins after neoadjuvant chemotherapy and adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery is a current standard of care. Applying modern chemotherapy regimen and performing limb-salvage surgery calls for responsible, trained and highly engaged medical staff. If the treatment and management principles of osteosarcoma are followed, limb-sparing with 60-80% survival rates can be achieved. Basic science is making continuous advance in molecular mechanisms and biologic pathways that may yield more specific agents, less-toxic drugs that will further improve overall long-term survival rates.