Learn About Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma is a rare type of cancerous bone tumor that usually develops in teenagers and young adults. It often occurs when a teen is growing rapidly.
Osteogenic sarcoma; Bone tumor - osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma is the most common bone cancer in children. The average age at diagnosis is 15 years. Boys and girls are just as likely to develop this tumor until the late teens, after which it occurs more often in boys. Osteosarcoma is also common in people over age 60.
The cause is not known. In some cases, osteosarcoma runs in families. At least one gene has been linked to an increased risk. This gene is also associated with familial retinoblastoma. This is a cancer of the eye that occurs in children.
Osteosarcoma tends to occur in the bones of the:
- Shin (near the knee)
- Thigh (near the knee)
- Upper arm (near the shoulder)
Osteosarcoma occurs most commonly in large bones in the area of bone with the fastest growth rate. However, it can occur in any bone.
The first symptom is usually bone pain near a joint. This symptom may be overlooked, especially in young people, because of other more common causes of joint pain.
Other symptoms may include any of the following:
- Bone fracture (may occur after a routine movement)
- Limitation of motion
- Limping (if the tumor is in the leg)
- Pain when lifting (if the tumor is in the arm)
- Tenderness, swelling, or redness at the site of the tumor
Treatment usually starts after a biopsy of the tumor is done.
Before surgery to remove the tumor, chemotherapy, radiation therapy, or both is usually given. This can shrink the tumor and make surgery easier. It may also kill any cancer cells that have spread to other parts of the body.
Surgery is used after chemotherapy to remove any remaining tumor. In most cases, surgery can remove the tumor while saving the affected limb. This is called limb-sparing surgery. In rare cases, more extensive surgery (such as amputation) is necessary.
The Center For Orthopedic Specialties
Dr. David S. Geller is a board-certified orthopedic oncologist who specializes in the treatment of both pediatric and adult patients with bone and soft-tissue tumors. He has been a full-time faculty member at Montefiore Einstein since 2006, at which time he established the Orthopedic Oncology Division. He currently serves as the Vice-Chair of Strategy and Innovation, the Co-Director of the Orthopedic Oncology Division, and the Associate Director of the Musculoskeletal Oncology Lab. He is a Professor of Orthopedic Surgery and Pediatrics at Albert Einstein College of Medicine. Dr. Geller is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Osteosarcoma. His top areas of expertise are Osteosarcoma, Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Bone Tumor, Osteotomy, and Hip Replacement.
The Center For Orthopedic Specialties
Bang H. Hoang, MD, is Arnold S. and Madaleine Penner Endowed Professor, Orthopedic Surgery, Director, Musculoskeletal Oncology Lab, Co-Director, Orthopedic Oncology and Research Director, Orthopedic Surgery at Montefiore Einstein. He specializes in musculoskeletal tumor surgery and is an expert in benign and malignant tumors, metastatic bone disease, pathologic fractures, complex bone and joint reconstruction with large-segment prosthesis and allograft, tumors of the pelvis and sacrum and investigational therapy for bone and soft tissue sarcoma. Dr. Hoang is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Osteosarcoma. His top areas of expertise are Osteosarcoma, Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Synovial Sarcoma, Bone Tumor, and Hip Replacement.
Johns Hopkins All Children's Outpatient Care, St. Petersburg
Dr. Metts specializes in pediatric hematology/oncology in the Johns Hopkins All Children's Cancer & Blood Disorders Institute. He sees patients on our main campus in St. Petersburg and at the Johns Hopkins All Children’s Outpatient Care Center in Tampa. He joined the hospital in 2016. He received his medical degree from the University of South Carolina School of Medicine and completed an internship and residency in pediatrics at Johns Hopkins All Children’s Hospital through the University of South Florida Morsani School of Medicine. Dr. Metts then trained at Emory University School of Medicine as a pediatric hematology/oncology fellow. His clinical interests include sarcomas, rare solid tumors, and Phase 1 and Phase 2 trials for pediatric solid tumors. Dr. Metts is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Osteosarcoma. His top areas of expertise are Osteosarcoma, Ewing Sarcoma, Rhabdomyosarcoma, and Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma.
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If the tumor has not spread to the lungs (pulmonary metastasis), long-term survival rates are better. If the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, the outlook is worse. However, there is still a chance of cure with effective treatment.
Complications may include:
- Limb removal
- Spread of cancer to the lungs
- Side effects of chemotherapy
Contact your provider if you or your child has persistent bone pain, tenderness, or swelling.
Summary: Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation can cure patients with blood cancer and other underlying diseases. αβ-T cell and B cell depletion has been introduced to decrease GVHD and PTLD and has demonstrated effectiveness for hematologic malignancies and non-malignant diseases additionally increasing the donor pool as to allow for haploidentical transplant to safely occur. While solid tumors can be h...
Summary: This phase II/III trial tests the safety, side effects, and best dose of the drug cabozantinib in combination with standard chemotherapy, and to compare the effect of adding cabozantinib to standard chemotherapy alone in treating patients with newly diagnosed osteosarcoma. Cabozantinib is in a class of medications called kinase inhibitors which block protein signals affecting new blood vessel form...
Published Date: October 14, 2024
Published By: Warren Brenner, MD, Oncologist, Lynn Cancer Institute, Boca Raton, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Anderson ME, DuBois SG, Gebhardt MC. Sarcomas of bone. In: Niederhuber JE, Armitage JO, Kastan MB, Doroshow JH, Tepper JE, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 6th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2020:chap 89.
National Cancer Institute website. Osteosarcoma and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma of bone treatment (PDQ) - health professional version. www.cancer.gov/types/bone/hp/osteosarcoma-treatment-pdq. Updated December 2, 2024. Accessed March 18, 2025.