Telangiectatic osteosarcoma: unusual behaviour

The telangiectatic variant of osteogenic sarcoma is rare. Its biologic behaviour, treatment and prognosis are controversial. The case of a 15-year-old girl with this tumour is described. Both the location and clinical behaviour of the tumour were unusual. The tumour, which involved the distal ulna, was initially treated by a limited resection of the distal 8 cm of ulna. Sixty-nine months later the tumour recurred locally; there was no evidence of metastases. The forearm was amputated and the patient was then treated aggressively by chemotherapy. She was well 42 months later. This case illustrates the tendency for telangiectatic osteosarcoma to recur locally if it is not radically excised.