Osteosarcoma epidemiology and demographics

Editor-In-Chief: C. Michael Gibson, M.S., M.D. [1]

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Prevalence

Terry Fox (1958-1981) began a run across Canada to raise money for cancer research. He developed osteosarcoma as a teenager and had a leg amputated. Today the Terry Fox Run continues to raise money for cancer research. Through the money raised by the fundraising runs major improvements were made in the treatment of the cancer. Today amputations are rare.

Osteosarcoma is the 6^th leading cancer in children under age 15. Osteosarcoma affects 400 children under age 20 and 500 adults (most between the ages of 15-30) every year in the USA. Approximately 1/3 of the 900 will die each year, or about 300 a year. A second peak in incidence occurs in the elderly, usually associated with an underlying bone pathology such as Paget's disease, medullary infarct, or prior irradiation. Although about 90% of patients are able to have limb-salvage surgery, complications, such as infection, prosthetic loosening and non-union, or local tumor recurrence may cause the need for further surgery or amputation.