Summary
Description
Telangiectatic osteosarcoma is a rare and aggressive variant of osteosarcoma. It accounts for 5% of osteosarcoma' and arises in the metaphysis and diaphysis.
Symptoms and Presentation
It presents more commonly as a pathological fracture than conventional osteosarcoma.
Brief description of the xray
Telangiectatic osteosarcoma is often entirely osteolytic on plain x-ray.
Tumor Name
Tumor Type
Benign or Malignant
Location in bone
Periosteal reaction
Position within the bone
Tumor behavior
Tumor density
Complete Information on this Tumor
Introduction and Definition
Telangiectatic osteosarcoma is a rare and aggressive variant of osteosarcoma. It accounts for 5% of osteosarcoma' and arises in the metaphysis and diaphysis.
Symptoms and Presentation
It presents more commonly as a pathological fracture than conventional osteosarcoma but has similar epidemiology.
X-Ray Appearance and Advanced Imaging Findings
Telangiectatic osteosarcoma is often entirely osteolytic on plain x-ray. Bone and cortex destruction are present as well as periosteal reaction and Codman's triangles. On T1 weighted MRI the lesion has high intensity and demonstrates fluid-fluid levels.
Histopathology findings
The characteristic gross appearance of telangiectatic osteosarcoma is a multi-cystic "bag of blood".Microscopically, telangiectatic osteosarcoma has large blood filled spaces and thin septation. Within the septa there is scanty osteoid production by the pleomorphic malignant cells of this high grade tumor.
Treatment Options for this Tumor
Telangiectatic osteosarcoma (TOS) has a similar prognosis to conventional osteosarcoma. It appears to be responsive to conventional chemotherapeutic protocols. There appears to be a higher-than anticipated amputation rate, perhaps due to the frequent occurence of pathological fracture in this lesio
Special and Unusual Features
This recent review a CORR article detailing the results of 17 patients with TOS is found in the Wheeless' Textbook of Orthopedic Surgery, and on-line resource:
Pignatti-G; Bacci-G; Picci-P; Dallari-D; Bertoni-F; Bacchini-P; Capanna-R
Department of Internal Medicine, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy.
Clin-Orthop. 1991 Sep(270): 99-106
Seventeen patients with telangiectatic osteogenic sarcoma (TOS) of
the extremities were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, according
to two different protocols. Preoperatively, the patients received
high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) and cisplatinum (CPD) (HD-MTX/CPD)
and doxorubicin. CPD was delivered intraarterially, the other drugs
intravenously. Limb-salvage surgery was performed in 12 instances,
and five patients were treated with amputation. Postoperative
chemotherapy was tailored according to the grade of
chemotherapy-induced necrosis. In 13 cases (86%), the resultant grade
of necrosis was greater than 90% (good responders). The mean
follow-up interval was 3.5 years with a range of 18 to 78 months.
Fourteen patients (82%) remained continuously disease-free, while
three patients developed lung metastases. Two of these died because
of uncontrolled disease, whereas the third patient is alive and
disease-free after metastasectomy. No local recurrences were
observed. These results are better than those observed in 215
contemporary cases of conventional osteosarcoma treated with the same
protocols. This study confirms that TOS is not a uniformly lethal
tumor as suggested by prior reports. By employing neoadjuvant
chemotherapy, a high percentage of patients with TOS can be cured,
and in most of them, a limb-sparing surgery is possible and safe.
Pignatti-G; Bacci-G; Picci-P; Dallari-D; Bertoni-F; Bacchini-P; Capanna-R
Department of Internal Medicine, Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy.
Clin-Orthop. 1991 Sep(270): 99-106
Seventeen patients with telangiectatic osteogenic sarcoma (TOS) of
the extremities were treated with neoadjuvant chemotherapy, according
to two different protocols. Preoperatively, the patients received
high-dose methotrexate (HD-MTX) and cisplatinum (CPD) (HD-MTX/CPD)
and doxorubicin. CPD was delivered intraarterially, the other drugs
intravenously. Limb-salvage surgery was performed in 12 instances,
and five patients were treated with amputation. Postoperative
chemotherapy was tailored according to the grade of
chemotherapy-induced necrosis. In 13 cases (86%), the resultant grade
of necrosis was greater than 90% (good responders). The mean
follow-up interval was 3.5 years with a range of 18 to 78 months.
Fourteen patients (82%) remained continuously disease-free, while
three patients developed lung metastases. Two of these died because
of uncontrolled disease, whereas the third patient is alive and
disease-free after metastasectomy. No local recurrences were
observed. These results are better than those observed in 215
contemporary cases of conventional osteosarcoma treated with the same
protocols. This study confirms that TOS is not a uniformly lethal
tumor as suggested by prior reports. By employing neoadjuvant
chemotherapy, a high percentage of patients with TOS can be cured,
and in most of them, a limb-sparing surgery is possible and safe.
Suggested Reading and Reference
Bloem, JL and HM Kroon, Osseous Lesions, Radiologic Clinics of North America, 31(2):261-277, March 1993.
Bullough, Peter, Orthopaedic Patholovv (third edition), Times Mirror International Publishers Limited, London, 1997.
Huvos, Andrew, Bone Tumors: Diagnosis. Treatment and Prognosis, W.B. Saunders, Co., 1991.
Vander Griend, RA, osteosarcoma and Its Variants, Orthopaedic Clinics of North America, 27(3):575581, July, 1996.
Bullough, Peter, Orthopaedic Patholovv (third edition), Times Mirror International Publishers Limited, London, 1997.
Huvos, Andrew, Bone Tumors: Diagnosis. Treatment and Prognosis, W.B. Saunders, Co., 1991.
Vander Griend, RA, osteosarcoma and Its Variants, Orthopaedic Clinics of North America, 27(3):575581, July, 1996.
