Definition: Osteosarcoma is a malignant tumor that is found in bones, over one half of osteosarcomas are found around the knee joint. These tumors are commonly diagnosed in a persons teens or twenties, or in people over 60 years of age. Early diagnosis is important for optimal treatment as osteosarcoma can spread around the body.
Treatment of osteosarcoma most often consists of both chemotherapy and surgery. Survival from this type of tumor is usually measured in five-year survival; this is the percentage of patients living five years after diagnosis. About 75% of patients diagnosed with osteosarcoma are alive five years after diagnosis; less advanced cases have a higher survival rate. Osteosarcoma most commonly spreads to the lungs and liver.
