Osteosarcoma eMedicine Pediatrics

Description: Osteosarcoma is the third most common cancer in adolescence, occurring less frequently than only lymphomas and brain tumors. It is thought to arise from a primitive mesenchymal bone-forming cell and is characterized by production of osteoid. The mainstay of therapy is removal of the lesion. Limb-sparing procedures can often be used to preserve function. Chemotherapy is also required to treat micrometastatic disease, which is present but not detectable in most patients at diagnosis.
Synonyms and related keywords: osteosarcoma, osteogenic sarcoma, osteoblastic osteosarcoma, chondroblastic osteosarcoma, fibroblastic osteosarcoma, telangiectatic osteosarcoma, multifocal osteosarcoma, parosteal osteosarcoma, periosteal osteosarcoma, bone cancer, bone tumor, fibrosarcoma, chondrosarcoma
Cripe 2006