Objective. Classic high-grade osteosarcoma is uncommon in preadolescents (less than or equal to 10 years of age). The possibilities of clinicopathologic differences from the typical adolescent osteosarcoma patient have been raised. We sought to compare the presentation, treatment and survival of this subgroup of patients with published rates in order to determine if there is a need to use a treatment regimen different from that for regular adolescent osteosarcoma patients. Methods. Records of the University of the Philippines-Musculoskeletal Tumor Unit (UP-MuST) over a 15-year period (1993-2008) were reviewed and data collected on patients 10 years and younger with biopsy-proven classic high-grade intramedullary osteosarcoma who underwent complete treatment by the Unit. Demographics and survival rates were then compared with published rates for preadolescent and regular adolescent osteosarcoma cases. Results. There were fourteen patients; (6M:8F; age: 4-10 years). The most common presentation was a painful mass in the distal femur (8); the tumors most commonly had osteoblastic histology (12). Treatment consisted of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, wide surgical excision through ablation (9) or limb-saving surgery (5), and postoperative chemotherapy. There was a good histologic response (over 90% tumor necrosis) in four patients. Seven patients are ANED (alive no evidence of disease) 25 to 186 months after diagnosis. Five-year survival estimate is 52%, compared to a dismal 5 to 10% 15 years ago. Conclusion. Clinicopathologic presentation, clinical course, and overall survival in this subgroup of patients are comparable with published results for both preadolescent and adolescent osteosarcoma patients. There is no need to alter the present treatment regimen for this group of young patients.
Human ; Male ; Female ; Child ; Child Preschool ; OSTEOSARCOMA ; THERAPEUTICS ; THERAPY ; NEOPLASMS ; NEOPLASMS BY HISTOLOGIC TYPE ; NEOPLASMS, CONNECTIVE AND SOFT TISSUE ; NEOPLASMS, CONNECTIVE TISSUE ; NEOPLASMS, BONE TISSUE ;

Functional and oncologic results of the initial series of children with osteosarcoma treated with rotationplasty at the University of the Philippines - Philippine General Hospital from 2014 to 2015 are reported. Five children (mean 13.2 years) with Enneking IIB osteosarcoma of the lower extremity underwent neoadjuvant chemotherapy, tumor resection with wide margins, and rotationplasty – four Winkelmann Type AI and one Type AII. The four Type-A cases were fixed using an intramedullary nail and the Type A2 case with a plate. Two cases had >90% tumor necrosis. Adjuvant chemotherapy was started 10 to 21 days following surgery. Functional results for the AI rotationplasty showed a good range of motion of the ankle (neo-knee) with preserved muscle strength. The patient with AII rotationplasty had a fair range of motion of the ankle with some muscle weakness. All had radiographic evidence of healing at an average of 12 weeks. The oncologic outcome showed two with local recurrences at five months from surgery; three died of disease at 7, 20, and 38 months; while two are alive without evidence of disease at 72 and 84 months. Three patients were able to fit with a prosthesis with good utility, ambulation status, and satisfaction.
Osteosarcoma

Objectives. The ongoing Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has disrupted healthcare systems worldwide. This study aimed to document the effect of COVID-19 on osteosarcoma treatment pathways in the Philippine General Hospital (PGH) and determine if there were any delays. Method. A retrospective review of osteosarcoma patients treated at the PGH from January 1, 2019 – January 1, 2020 (pre-COVID-19) was compared to those treated during the COVID-19 pandemic from March 1, 2020 – September 1, 2020. Rates of diagnosed osteosarcoma, admission for chemotherapy, admission for surgery, treatment abandonment, metastatic disease on presentation, 1-year mortality, and amputation were calculated and compared between the two groups. Results. From March to September 2020, 11 newly diagnosed osteosarcoma patients sought consult at the PGH. Only one patient sought consult during the initial 3-4 months of the study, suggesting that patients delayed seeking healthcare during the period of enhanced community quarantine. Patients seen during the pandemic had a higher rate of metastatic disease on presentation, reflecting the delay in diagnosis. Due to COVID-19 restrictions early in the pandemic, osteosarcoma patients were coordinated and referred to outside hospitals for intravenous chemotherapy and surgery. Normalization of services (hospital admissions, limb salvage surgeries) were seen at the later stages of the study, corresponding to the loosening of the quarantine. Conclusions. Osteosarcoma patients experienced delays in seeking consult, diagnosis, and treatment at the PGH due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Early indicators suggest worse outcomes for these patients due to the delays. Strategies employed during the pandemic, such as networking of care and telemedicine, may help in future outbreaks.
Coronavirus ; COVID-19 ; Coronavirus Infections ; Pandemics ; Osteosarcoma