Summary
Post-radiation osteosarcoma is a type of secondary osteosarcoma (OS). It is defined as an osteosarcoma that occurs in the tissues that were treated with radiation for some other disease process. The tumor occurs after a latency period of several years (average is 17 y) following the radiation treatment, and is a direct complication of the treatment.
Complete Information on this Tumor
Post-radiation osteosarcoma is a type of secondary osteosarcoma (OS). It is defined as an osteosarcoma that occurs in the tissues that were treated with radiation for some other disease process. The tumor occurs after a latency period of several years (average is 17 y) following the radiation treatment, and is a direct complication of the treatment. It is an uncommon tumor with an overall incidence rate of less than 1% for cancer patients treated with radiation who survive five years. It affects a wide age group and the prognosis and response to treatment is comparable with primary osteosarcoma.
Symptoms can go unnoticed for a fairly long time, or be misinterpreted by the patient and the doctor, and then an acute onset of constant and progressive pain and/or swelling occurs. The pain is worse at night and is usually not relieved with aspirin or nonsteroidal drugs. Other symptoms include a development of a mass and/or a pathologic fracture near to the irradiation area with tenderness and/or bleeding.