Osteosarcoma overview

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

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Case #1
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Overview

Bone cancer is a malignant (cancerous) tumor of the bone that destroys normal bone tissue (1). Not all bone tumors are malignant. In fact, benign (noncancerous) bone tumors are more common than malignant ones. Both malignant and benign bone tumors may grow and compress healthy bone tissue, but benign tumors do not spread, do not destroy bone tissue, and are rarely a threat to life.

Malignant tumors that begin in bone tissue are called primary bone cancer. Cancer that metastasizes (spreads) to the bones from other parts of the body, such as the breast, lung, or prostate, is called metastatic cancer, and is named for the organ or tissue in which it began. Primary bone cancer is far less common than cancer that spreads to the bones.

There are three types of bone cancer:

• Osteosarcoma - develops in growing bones, usually between ages 10 and 25
• Chondrosarcoma - starts in cartilage, usually after age 50
• Ewing's sarcoma - begins in nerve tissue in bone marrow of young people, often after treatment of another condition with radiation or chemotherapy

Osteosarcoma is the most common type of malignant bone cancer, accounting for 35% of primary bone malignancies. There is a preference for the metaphyseal region of tubular long bones. 50% of cases occur around the knee. It is a malignant connective (soft) tissue tumor whose neoplastic cells present osteoblastic differentiation and form tumoral bone.

Case Examples

Case #1

Clinical Summary

This 14-year-old white male first experienced mild pain in the left knee after playing baseball, approximately two months prior to admission. The pain persisted in an intermittent fashion, and was described as being somewhat worse at night. Approximately two weeks prior to admission, the pain increased significantly and was accompanied by marked swelling and loss of considerable motion of the knee joint. These symptoms were accompanied by a history of decreased appetite, lethargy, and a 10-pound weight loss. On physical examination, the left knee was enlarged diffusely, firm, and non-tender. Following biopsy, the patient was subjected to surgical removal of the distal femur and knee with placement of a prosthetic knee joint and bone grafts.

Autopsy Findings

The distal diaphysis of the femur and adjacent soft tissues were involved in a 15 x 10 x 10-cm mass. The cut surface of the mass was fleshy white, with focal areas of hemorrhage.

Pathological Findings

Image courtesy of Professor Peter Anderson DVM PhD and published with permission © PEIR, University of Alabama at Birmingham, Department of Pathology

This is a photograph of the patient prior to surgery. Note the marked swelling of the knee.

This is a radiograph showing the tumor in the distal femur.

This is another view of the tumor in the distal femur.

This is a gross photograph of the surgical specimen with tissue dissected away to demonstrate the tumor mass.

These are cut sections of the distal femur containing the tumor. The periosteal involvement is evident from this picture (arrows).

This is a low-power photomicrograph of decalcified histologic section from this tumor. Note the blue color (cell nuclei stain blue) of much of this section indicating the increased cellularity of the tumor.

This is a higher-power photomicrograph of decalcified histologic section from this tumor. There are areas of osteoid (1) and cellular areas (2).

This is a high-power photomicrograph of decalcified histologic section showing the cellularity of the tumor.

This high-power photomicrograph demonstrates the cellular growth pattern. Note that the cells are fusiform and they grow in sheets.

This high-power photomicrograph demonstrates the growth pattern and the cell morphology.

This is a high-power photomicrograph of the tumor cell morphology and the periosteum (arrow).

This high-power photomicrograph of the tumor demonstrates the fusiform morphology of the cells. Note the marked variability in size and staining intensity of the nuclei.

This is a high-power photomicrograph of the tumor demonstrating the anaplastic cell morphology.

This is a high-power photomicrograph of the tumor demonstrating the anaplastic cell morphology.

This is a high-power photomicrograph of the tumor demonstrating the anaplastic cell morphology and multiple mitotic figures (arrows).