Osteosarcoma is a type of malignant bone tumor that is more frequent in children, adolescents and young adults, with a greater chance of severe symptoms between 20 and 30 years. The bones most affected are the long bones of the legs and arms, but osteosarcoma can appear on any other bone in the body and easily undergo metastasis, that is, the tumor can spread to another location.
According to the growth rate of the tumor, osteosarcoma can be classified into:
- High degree: in which the tumor has very rapid growth and includes cases of osteoblastic osteosarcoma or chondroblastic osteosarcoma, more common in children and adolescents; Intermediate grade: it has rapid development and includes periosteal osteosarcoma, for example; Low grade: grows slowly and, therefore, is difficult to diagnose and includes parosteal and intramedullary osteosarcoma.
The faster the growth, the greater the severity of the symptoms and the more likely it is to spread to other parts of the body. Therefore, it is important that the diagnosis is made as soon as possible by the orthopedist through imaging tests.
Osteosarcoma symptoms
Osteosarcoma symptoms can vary from person to person, but in general the main symptoms are:
- Pain at the site, which can worsen at night; Swelling / edema at the site; Redness and heat; Lump near a joint; Limitation of movement of the compromised joint.
The diagnosis of osteosarcoma must be made by the orthopedist as early as possible, through complementary laboratory and image exams, such as radiography, tomography, magnetic resonance, bone scintigraphy or PET. Bone biopsy should also always be performed when there is suspicion.
The occurrence of osteosarcoma is usually related to genetic factors, there being a greater risk of having the disease to people who have family members or who have genetic diseases, such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Paget's disease, hereditary retinoblastoma and osteogenesis imperfecta, for example.
How is the treatment
Treatment for osteosarcoma involves a multidisciplinary team with oncological orthopedist, clinical oncologist, radiotherapist, pathologist, psychologist, general practitioner, pediatrician and intensive care physician.
There are several protocols for treatment, including chemotherapy, followed by surgery for resection or amputation and a new chemotherapy cycle, for example. The performance of chemotherapy, radiotherapy or surgery varies according to the location of the tumor, aggressiveness, involvement of adjacent structures, metastases and size.
