Follow-up study of long-term survivors of osteosarcoma in the prechemotherapy era

• Published in: Human pathology Vol. 37; no. 8; pp. 1009 - 1014
• Main Authors: Gaffney, Robyn, Unni, K. Krishnan, Sim, Franklin H., Slezak, Jeffrey M., Esther, Robert J., Bolander, Mark E.
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: New York, NY Elsevier Inc 01.08.2006; Elsevier; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Age Distribution; Biological and medical sciences; Biopsy; Bone cancer; Bone Neoplasms - mortality; Bone Neoplasms - pathology; Bone Neoplasms - surgery; Cancer therapies; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Female; Follow-Up Studies; Humans; Investigative techniques, diagnostic techniques (general aspects); Male; Malignancy; Medical sciences; Minnesota - epidemiology; Neoplasms, Second Primary - mortality; Neoplasms, Second Primary - pathology; Osteosarcoma - mortality; Osteosarcoma - pathology; Osteosarcoma - surgery; Pathology. Cytology. Biochemistry. Spectrometry. Miscellaneous investigative techniques; Radiation therapy; Retrospective Studies; Retrospective study; Sarcoma; Studies; Survival Rate; Survivors - statistics & numerical data; Treatment; Tumors; Tumors of striated muscle and skeleton; Minnesota; Malignancy; Retrospective study; Treatment; Sarcoma; Survivor; Diseases of the osteoarticular system; Malignant tumor; Long term; Retrospective; Osteoarticular system; Anatomic pathology; Follow up study; Osteosarcoma; Bone
• ISSN: 0046-8177; 1532-8392
• DOI: 10.1016/j.humpath.2006.02.022

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone sarcoma. Several studies published in the 1960s established that approximately one fifth of patients survive when treated with surgery alone. There is no information, however, about the long-term consequences of osteosarcoma. It is especially relevant to know if these patients are at risk for a second malignancy. We reviewed all clinical records from long-term (defined as more than 10 years) osteosarcoma survivors treated at Mayo Clinic in the prechemotherapeutic era from 1900 to 1960. We re-reviewed histological sections for most cases. Patients or next of kin provided follow-up information during telephone interviews. Rates of second malignancy were compared with expected rates in the population at large. We identified 465 patients treated for osteosarcoma. Of these patients, 83 (17.8%) were long-term survivors, including 19 who were alive up to 65 years after treatment. Of the 7 patients with pulmonary metastases, 3 died. A second malignancy developed in 26 patients, 15 of whom died of the malignancy. Although long-term survivors of osteosarcoma have a higher incidence of a second malignant tumor than a normal population, this increase was not statistically significant. No demographic or histological variables predicted long-term survival.