Osteosarcoma: Evaluation and Treatment

An osteosarcoma is an aggressive malignant neoplasm, which arises in the bone. It tends to affect the knee, hip, shoulder and jaw. It commonly occurs in teenagers and young adults. Its symptoms can comprise of intermittent pain of varying intensity particularly at night, pain in the lower femur, localized swelling, abnormal fracture, etc. Some of the risk factors for developing osteosarcoma are bone dysplasias, Rothmund-Thomson syndrome, Li-Fraumeni syndrome and exposure to large doses of Sr-90. This condition can be diagnosed using a combination of scans such as bone scan, MRI, CT scan and PET scan, and a surgical biopsy. A complete surgical resection of the cancer is the best treatment strategy. This book discusses the fundamentals as well as modern approaches in the evaluation and treatment of osteosarcoma. It unfolds the innovative aspects of osteosarcoma research, which will be crucial for the progress of oncology in the future. For all readers who are interested in oncology, the case studies included herein will serve as an excellent guide to develop a comprehensive understanding.