A staging of bone-marrow-derived osteosarcoma of long bones with a 64-case analysis

According to the natural development of the bone-marrow-derived osteosarcoma (BMDOS) of long bones, it was classified into 4 stages. Stage A: The tumor is confined within the marrow cavity; stage B: The tumor has perforated the bone cortex; stage C: The tumor has involved the contiguous joint cartilage; and stage D: The tumor has metastasized to the lung. According to this staging, 64 cases of BMDOS of the long bones were investigated and the relationship between staging and prognosis, between different kinds of treatment and prognosis, etc. were analyzed. This staging of BMDOS of long bones proved to be very significant clinically. Only those cases in stage A or B can be expected to survive for 5 years; and because most of the non-survivors die within 2.5 years after treatment, this time is considered a critical period. Tumor involvement of the contiguous joint cartilage is also a critical sign. As to prognosis, the stage of the tumor is a more accurate indicator than is the method of treatment. And finally, the prognosis of patients treated with chemotherapy and amputation was generally better than that of patients treated by amputation alone.