Adjuvant chemotherapy associated with surgery in the treatment of osteosarcoma. Preliminary results

The results are presented of thirty five cases of osteosarcoma in which radical surgery was associated with cyclic chemotherapy with vincrystin, adriamycin and methotrexate. Nine patients had pulmonary metastases at intervals of from three to twenty one months after operation; of these, seven died between six and twenty six months after operation. The remaining twenty six patients are in good health and show no signs of disease at follow up varying from twelve to forty eight months. The mortality rate and the percentage of patients with pulmonary metastase from six to forty eight months after operation are notably lower than in a previous series treated by surgery only.