Morphology of osteosarcoma: new qualitative and quantitative investigations

Results on seven cases of osteosarcoma are reported, based on new morphologic methods and quantitative procedures. Tumor tissue was embedded without prior decalcification in plastic and sectioned. Imprint cytology preparations were produced from fresh tumor tissue, and cell nuclei were measured with an electronic image analysing computer system. The loss of differentiation seen in osteosarcomas differs among osteoblasts, osteocytes, and osteoclasts. The differentiation of osteoclasts, namely their resorptive characteristics, disappears relatively early. Tumor osteocytes show loss of differentiation in their osteocyte processes. The new formation of tumor bone tissue remains in the near normal range of volume density when nuclear polymorphy is limited. The formation of ground substance and mineralization are apparently closely couplet to one another, since in our cases mostly ordered osteoid seams were observed. The capacity for mineralization of bone tissue is lost with marked polymorphy. The significance of these results for diagnostic statements and therapeutic consequences will be further discussed in long term studies.