Response to Coss-86 neoadjuvant therapy assessed by computed tomography and histology

Authors state that in osteosarcoma the measure of mineralization of the tumorous osteoid can be precisely assessed with CT. Hounsfield Units (H.U.) values < 300 demonstrate tumorous osteoids not yet mineralized. Over this limit, however, there is a linear correlation between H.U. values and the extent of mineralization. Since CT detects only tumorous osteoids and demonstrates its measure of mineralization, it does not provide information about the tumour cell components. Consequently, it is not a suitable tool for the assessment of tumour response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy. CT has, however, some advantages over conventional radiographic estimation of tumour extent and detection of tumorous osteoid before mineralization. Because of this diagnostic power, CT is indispensable in limb salving surgeries when the level of amputation is to be determined.