Best results require complete eradication of the primary tumour by radical surgery combined with chemotherapy.
Amputation should ideally extend through or above the joint proximal to the tumour, including all affected muscle but may be unacceptable. More restricted amputation or a wide excision with limb sparing, may be performed only if the patient is aware of the increased likelihood of recurrence.
Chemotherapy is started pre-operatively, at an aggressive level that the patient is able to tolerate. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy usually comprises a combination of high-dose methotrexate with calcium folinate rescue, doxorubicin, and cisplatin, plus ifosfamide or a combination of high-dose ifosfamide and etoposide. Its effectiveness is then reassessed following surgery and other agents may be substituted.
Radiotherapy is restricted to tumours in inoperable sites - for example, the pelvis or jaw - and to those for whom amputation is unacceptable.
Lung secondaries are resected wherever possible. Patients with pulmonary metastases generally do better than patients with osseous metastases, as pulmonary lesions are generally more readily resectable. (1)
References
1. Update on Survival in Osteosarcoma - PubMed (nih.gov) (https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26614941/)
Add information to this page that would be handy to have on hand during a consultation, such as a web address or phone number. This information will always be displayed when you visit this page