Osteogenic sarcoma: initial experience at the Shaukat Khanum Hospital

ABSTRACT

Osteogenic sarcoma is a malignant tumour of bone in which tumour cells form neoplastic osteoid or bone or both. It is not a very uncommon tumour. We saw 66 patients at the Shaukat Khanum Paediatric Oncology Department between January 1995 to November 1996. There was a male preponderance [73%]. Mean age at presentation was 14.38 years. The average tumour length and width at the time of presentation was 21.2cm and 17.45cm respectively. The common site was femur 44.0%. Metastases were present in 45% at presentation. Serum Alkaline Phosphatase was elevated. Majority [79%] of the patients had no treatment prior to presentation. All the poor prognostic factors were present at presentation in almost all the patients. All received neo- adjuvant chemotherapy and all the patients except one were offered amputations. Sixty five percent patients have been lost to follow up