Condition Lookup
Sub-Category:
Bone Sarcomas
Number of Conditions: 2
Osteosarcoma
Specialty: Oncology
Category: Sarcomas
Sub-category: Bone Sarcomas
Symptoms:
pain in the bone or joint; swelling or a lump near the affected area; limited range of motion if near a joint; fractures due to weakened bone; redness or warmth in the affected area
Root Cause:
Osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer that originates in the osteoblasts (cells that form bone tissue). It most commonly affects the long bones (e.g., femur, tibia, humerus).
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis typically involves imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, and MRIs, followed by a biopsy of the tumor to confirm the presence of cancer cells.
Treatment:
Treatment generally includes a combination of surgery, chemotherapy, and sometimes radiation therapy. Surgical resection of the tumor is the primary treatment, often followed by chemotherapy to kill any remaining cancer cells.
Medications:
Chemotherapy drugs, including methotrexate , doxorubicin , and cisplatin , are commonly prescribed. These are cytotoxic drugs used to kill rapidly dividing cancer cells. Pain medications may also be prescribed.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Osteosarcoma is relatively rare, accounting for approximately 3% of all cancers in children and adolescents, with around 400 new cases annually in the United States.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Genetic conditions like Li-Fraumeni syndrome, familial retinoblastoma, and Rothmund-Thomson syndrome increase risk. Previous radiation therapy and rapid bone growth (in teens) are also risk factors.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
Prognosis depends on the stage at diagnosis and the response to treatment. The 5-year survival rate for localized osteosarcoma can be as high as 70%, but decreases significantly if the cancer has metastasized.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Potential complications include metastasis (especially to the lungs), recurrence of the tumor, and side effects from chemotherapy (e.g., cardiovascular issues, hearing loss).
Chondrosarcoma
Specialty: Oncology
Category: Sarcomas
Sub-category: Bone Sarcomas
Symptoms:
persistent pain at the tumor site, especially at night; swelling or a mass near the affected area; limited mobility if the tumor is near a joint; bone fractures due to weakened bone
Root Cause:
Chondrosarcoma is a type of bone cancer that begins in cartilage cells. It typically occurs in the pelvis, femur, or shoulder blades and grows slowly compared to other bone cancers.
How it's Diagnosed: videos
Diagnosis involves imaging tests such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRIs. A biopsy is required to confirm the presence of cancer cells and to distinguish it from benign cartilage tumors.
Treatment:
Treatment mainly involves surgery to remove the tumor. Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be used in cases of high-grade or metastatic chondrosarcoma, though the tumor is often resistant to these treatments.
Medications:
Chemotherapy agents like methotrexate and doxorubicin may be used, although they are often less effective than in other sarcomas. Pain management includes NSAIDs or stronger opioids for pain relief.
Prevalence:
How common the health condition is within a specific population.
Chondrosarcoma is relatively rare, accounting for about 20% of all primary bone cancers. It most commonly affects adults over the age of 40.
Risk Factors:
Factors or behaviors that increase the likelihood of developing the condition.
Genetic conditions such as Ollier disease and Maffucci syndrome are associated with an increased risk. A history of previous radiation therapy may also increase risk.
Prognosis:
The expected outcome or course of the condition over time.
The prognosis varies depending on the tumor grade and location. Low-grade chondrosarcoma has a better prognosis, with a 5-year survival rate of about 80%, while high-grade tumors have a much poorer prognosis.
Complications:
Additional problems or conditions that may arise as a result of the original condition.
Complications include local recurrence, metastasis (typically to the lungs), and post-surgical complications like infection or loss of function.