Osteosarcoma in New Zealand: an outcome study comparing survival rates between 1981-1987 and 1994-1999

To review the data and outcome of patients with osteosarcoma in New Zealand from 1994 to 1999 and to compare this to data retrieved from a similar study from 1981 to 1987.

Data from 1994-1999 was obtained from the New Zealand Cancer Registry; raw data was also retrieved from the 1981-1987 study.

There were 96 cases in the 1981-1987 cohort and 84 cases in the 1994-1999 cohort. Overall, 5-year survival from osteosarcoma improved from 32.3% to 44.0% between the cohorts. When the cohorts were compared, there was a trend toward improved outcome in most subgroups

The outcome in patients with osteosarcoma in New Zealand has improved over the study period and is similar to that seen in the overseas literature.