Osteogenic Sarcoma

Osteogenic sarcoma, also called osteosarcoma, is the most common type of bone cancer in children. It arises in the ends of the bones. The bones most frequently involved are the large bones of the upper arm (humerus) and the leg (femur and tibia). Osteogenic sarcoma usually occurs between the ages of 10 and 25 and is more common among males than females.

Young people with this type of cancer generally complain of pain and swelling, which they sometimes blame on an injury. Diagnosis can be difficult, because the disease is easily confused with local infection, effects of injury, glandular deficiencies, arthritis, vitamin deficiencies, and benign tumors. Although osteogenic sarcoma may be suspected by the way the bone looks on x-rays, diagnosis can be confirmed only by biopsy. Because the disease commonly spreads (metastasizes) to other parts of the body, especially the lungs, chest x-rays, lung tomograms, CT scans of the chest, and an x-ray skeletal survey or bone scan may also be done before treatment.

Surgery (amputation or limb-sparing) is the primary method of treatment, followed by a course of chemotherapy using one or more anticancer drugs. A prosthesis (artificial limb) and physical rehabilitation may be important parts of therapy.

Each year, Medical College of Wisconsin physicians care for more than 180,000 patients, representing nearly 500,000 patient visits. Medical College physicians practice at Children's Hospital of Wisconsin, Froedtert Memorial Lutheran Hospital, the Milwaukee VA Medical Center, and many other hospitals and clinics in Milwaukee and southeastern Wisconsin.