Osteosarcoma is a rare cancer that develops in bone tissue. Bone cancer is very rare. Around 2,000 cases are diagnosed in the United States each year. The most common type, accounting for 35 percent of bone cancer cases, is osteosarcoma, a tumor that develops from cells that form bone. Most often affected are the large bones in the lower extremity (femur and tibia) and the upper arm bone (humerus), but osteosarcoma can occur in any bone. Although most osteosarcomas begin in bone, a small percentage start in a non-bony area. These tumors are called extraskeletal osteosarcomas. If the tumor is found in one location and has not spread to other parts of the body, the cure rate is 65 to 75 percent. Osteosarcoma is most prevalent in people between the ages of 10 and 30, but can occur at any age.

Researchers are dedicated to advancing the treatment of osteosarcoma. The National Cancer Institute has designated the Mayo Clinic Cancer Center as a comprehensive cancer center in recognition of its superior depth and breadth of capabilities.

Diagnosis

Osteosarcoma tumors are often found when an individual experiences pain or swelling in a bone or joint that does not go away completely. For suspected cases of osteosarcoma, physicians evaluate the tumor using imaging studies such as X-rays, CT and MRI scans, and bone scans. To diagnose osteosarcoma, the doctor must remove a small sample of the suspected tumor for examination by a pathologist (biopsy). The pathologist views the sample under a microscope to determine whether the tumor is malignant and to identify the exact type.

Treatment Options

Patients with osteosarcoma generally receive a combination of cancer-fighting drugs (chemotherapy) followed by surgery on the tumor. Specialists use the latest advances in surgery and chemotherapy to treat the disease. Many limb-salvage techniques are available. In about 90 percent of osteosarcoma cases of the arm or leg, the limb can be saved. Rehabilitation specialists help patients regain use of affected limbs.

For more information about Osteosarcoma, visit the Mayo Clinic's website at http://www.mayoclinic.org/osteosarcoma/