osteosarcoma
Last reviewed 01/2018
Osteosarcoma accounts for about 40% of primary malignancies of bone, the highest incidence occurring in the second decade of life.
The development of an osteosarcoma in later life usually is a secondary development to, e.g. Paget's disease of the bone, radioactive elements in the bone, or a pre-existing osteoclastoma.
Males are affected more commonly than females, with a ratio of approximately 2:1.
Osteosarcomas are more common in certain sites :
- lower end of femur - about 40%
- upper end of humerus - about 10%
- pelvic bones - about 10%
i.e. the important sites are metaphyses.