Growth characteristics of pulmonary metastases from osteosarcoma

Pulmonary metastases were measured in 7 patients with osteosarcoma. The growth curve of these metastases appears to conform closely to a Gompertzian function, a mathematical description widely accepted as a model for tumor growth in animal systems. Growth curves for pulmonary metastases were projected backwards assuming exponential growth for that period between amputation and initial roentgenologic detection. Lesion size at the time of amputation is estimated and found to vary widely from miniscule lesions of a few cells to large foci destined to become roentgenographically detectable within a few weeks of amputation.