Treatment of local osteosarcoma

Localized osteosarcoma is a cancer limited to the bone that has not metastasized in an observable manner. We aim to treat localized osteosarcoma curatively.  

Planning of treatment for osteosarcoma

We plan your treatment in a multiprofessional treatment meeting according to the extent and characteristics of the tumor. In the treatment, we take into account your age, other illnesses, and functional capacity.

In osteosarcomas of low malignancy, surgical treatment is sufficient. In highly malignant osteosarcomas, we supplement surgery with chemotherapy or radiation therapy, or a combination of both.  

Ewing’s sarcoma in bone and high malignancy osteosarcoma metastasize at an early stage and therefore their treatment is usually initiated with chemotherapy. Depending on your situation, your treatment may also begin with surgery.

Surgical treatment of local osteosarcoma

After initial chemotherapy, osteosarcoma surgery is performed as planned, usually after 3–6 chemotherapy treatments. We typically perform the surgery in a way that preserves the limb. We can correct tissue deficiency with your own tissue or an artificial joint. We can usually place a functional prosthesis in the area to be removed.

Most patients with limb osteosarcoma can be operated on conservatively. In rare cases where the tumor has spread to a large area across the limb or is growing attached to nerves or blood vessels, amputation may be the most sensible option. If surgery cannot be performed due to the extent or location of the tumor, we will treat the tumor with radiation therapy.

After surgical treatment of local osteosarcoma

Once you have recovered from surgery, chemotherapy will continue. In osteosarcoma, they continue with the same chemotherapy. In Ewing’s sarcoma, we plan the treatment in accordance with the pathologist’s assessment. For some patients, we recommend progressing to high-dose chemotherapy and the replacement of the patient’s own stem cells as supportive treatment.  

The primary goal of surgery is to remove the tumor as extensively as possible and thus bring the cancer under control. The secondary goal is to save the limb and its function. The removed bone will be replaced, for example, with your own bone, bone from the biobank, or an artificial joint.