The diagnosis of osteosarcoma is based on both clinical, rediological and histopathological findings, but the majority of the patients with osteosarcoma can be diagnosed with a reasonable degree of confidence from the appearance of the lesion on the plain X-ray film. The combination of soft tissue mass and calcification, increased intramedullary radiodensity, cortical bone destruction,and marked periosteal reaction such as Codmans triangle and sunburst reaction is the radiographic hallmark of osteosarcoma, Among the above mentioned radiological findings, the presence of soft tissue mass with calcification can be so strongly suspected to be nearly diagnostic on the X- ray examination alone. The author performed radiological analysis of 40 cases of osreosarcoma which was experienced at the Department of Orthopedic Surgery, College of Medicine, Korea University including other hospitals from 1975 to 1980 and particulary observed correlation between the soft tissue mass with calcification and other radiological findings. The results obtained as follow: 1. Of the 40 cases, soft tissue mass with calcification were observed in 32 cases(80%), cortical destruction in 31 cases(77.5%), periosteal reaction in 24 cases(60%), sunburst reaction in 23 cases(57%) and Codmans triangle in 21 cases were observed. 2. Of the 40 cases, 23 cases(57.5%) were osteoblastic, 12 cases(30%) of osteolytic and 5 cases(12.5%) of mixed type. 3. The shadow of soft tissue mass with calcification was observed 11 cases(91.7%) among 12 cases of osteolytic type, 28 cases(91%) among 31 cases of cortical destruction, 21 cases(87.5%) among 24 cases of periosteal reaction, 20 cases(86.9%) among 23 cases of sunburst reaction and 18 cases (85.7%) among 21 cases of Codmans triangle.
Diagnosis ; Humans ; Korea ; Orthopedics ; Osteoblasts ; Osteosarcoma ; X-Ray Film