Imaging recurrent parosteal osteosarcoma

The aim of this study was to document the imaging features of recurrent parosteal osteosarcoma. The clinical and imaging records of 33 patients with a parosteal osteosarcoma referred to an orthopaedic oncology service over a 17-year period were retrospectively reviewed. The mode of identification of locally recurrent tumour was noted, together with the management and clinical outcome. Five patients developed a local recurrence of their parosteal osteosarcoma ranging from 6 months to 10 years after initial surgery. In 4 patients the recurrence was first suspected clinically due to the development of a mass. In the fifth patient recurrence was first detected on routine follow-up radiography. In 4 patients the recurrence could be identified on radiography as a mineralized mass. All the recurrences were readily identified on MR imaging, despite artefacts from prostheses. The recurrences were also evident in the 3 cases in which bone scintigraphy was performed. Local recurrence of parosteal osteosarcoma is adequately detected with a combination of clinical examination and conventional radiography. MR imaging is required to stage local recurrence or where radiography has failed to confirm clinically suspected recurrence. The routine use of MR imaging to follow-up patients is of doubtful value because of the frequently long time between initial surgery and relapse.