Osteosarcoma of the spine- A dilemma in diagnosis and management.
- Author:
Villaruel Copernico J.
;
Grozman Samuel Arsenio M.
;
Wang Edward HM
- Publication Type:Case report
- Keywords: Osteosarcoma; Spine Tumor; Primary Bone Tumors
- MeSH: Human; Male; Female; Adult; Osteosarcoma; Bone Neoplasms; Prognosis; Spine; Treatment Outcome
- From: Philippine Journal of Surgical Specialties 2010;65(1):32-36
- CountryPhilippines
- Language:English
-
Abstract:
Osteosarcoma of the spine accounts for 1 to 3 percent of osteosarcoma. When this afflication of the spine occurs, it is often fraught with diagnostic dilemmas and treatment challenges.
OBJECTIVE: This manuscript reports on the cases reported over a 15- year period from the UP Musculoskeletal Tumor Unit. Only 2 of the 3 cases were available for review.
RESULTS: Both patients were initially misdiagnosed. This delay in diagnosis led to a delay in instituting appropriate chemotheraphy inevitable causing poor outcomes of treatment.
CONCLUSION: This report highlights the dilemma of treating a difficult site. Spinal osteosarcoma presents with numerous diagnostics and management obstacles. Unless clinician awareness is improved and these treatment options become available to patients, prognosis will not improve.