Multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and management of osteosarcoma – a review of the St Vincent's Hospital experience
2006

Managing Osteosarcoma: Insights from St Vincent's Hospital

Sample size: 59 publication Evidence: moderate

Author Information

Author(s): Tan Judith Zhi-Yie, Schlicht Stephen M, Powell Gerard J, Thomas David, Slavin John L, Smith Peter J, Choong Peter FM

Primary Institution: St Vincent's Hospital, Melbourne, Australia

Hypothesis

This paper aims to describe and discuss the clinical features, pre-operative work-up, management and outcomes of osteosarcoma patients at St Vincent's Hospital.

Conclusion

Patient outcomes can be optimised through a multidisciplinary approach in a tertiary referral centre.

Supporting Evidence

  • Over fifty percent of patients remained relapse-free during the follow-up period.
  • Twelve percent of patients had local disease recurrence.
  • Twenty-seven percent of patients had distant disease recurrence.
  • Sixty-two percent of patients with recurrent disease remained disease-free following subsequent surgical intervention.

Takeaway

Osteosarcoma is a type of bone cancer that mostly affects young people, and treating it well can help many patients live without the disease.

Methodology

Retrospective study of fifty-nine consecutive patients managed for osteosarcoma at St Vincent's Hospital between 1995 and 2005.

Limitations

The study is limited to a single institution's experience and may not be generalizable.

Participant Demographics

Median age at diagnosis was 21 years, with 31 male and 28 female patients.

Digital Object Identifier (DOI)

10.1186/1477-7800-3-38

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