Osteosarcoma, also called osteogenic sarcoma, is a extremely rare type of cancer that can develop in the metacarpals and phaalnges of the hand. Primary bone tumors are exceptionally unusual in the hand, but among these hand lesions, osteosarcoma is the most common. It also is one of the most common malignancies after cancer treatment in children. Osteosarcoma of the hand usually presents with swelling and pain. Osteosarcoma of the hand has no preference for right or left hand; no preference for male or female and it occurs in all age groups. The metacarpals and phalanges are equally involved.8 Osteosarcoma is highly invasive, and 85% of patients with osteosarcoma have metastases. Teenagers are the primary affected age group among typical patients, which include those aged 10–30 years. But osteosarcoma can occur at any age; about 10% occurs in people >60 years old. The diagnosis is often delayed in youth, because symptoms of pain and swelling are common in active people. Recent reports have highlighted radiation and extraskeletal osteosarcoms of the hand. These very rare lesions typically occur in older individuals.1-8
Pathophysiology
Subtypes:
*Most common among high-grade osteosarcomas
Related Anatomy
Incidence and Related Conditions
Differential Diagnosis
Reproduced from the International statistical classification of diseases and related health problems, 10th revision, Fifth edition, 2016. Geneva, World Health Organization, 2016 https://apps.who.int/iris/handle/10665/246208
The typical patient is most likely to be a male teenager, who will present with complaints of pain and swelling, and a nodule or mass (possibly non-tender) will be evident. Because the diagnosis of osteosarcoma is often delayed due to expected, occasional pain and swelling in this active age group, the physician should maintain a high degree of suspicion until the possibility of bone cancer is ruled out. There may be a history of previous treatment with radiation therapy for another cancer.
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