Surgical treatment for osteosarcoma

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Springfield-DS; Schmidt-R; Graham-Pole-J; Marcus-RB Jr; Spanier-SS; Department of Orthopaedics, University of Florida, Gainesville 32610. J-Bone-Joint-Surg-Am. 1988 Sep; 70(8): 1124-30 Fifty-three patients who had a high-grade osteosarcoma had either a limb-salvage resection or an amputation. They all received adjuvant therapy that consisted of administration of Adriamycin (doxorubicin) and whole-lung irradiation. At the time of follow-up, the surgical margin was assessed by examination of the surgical specimen. Each patient was followed for at least three years or until death. The data suggested that a wide surgical margin is adequate to control a primary osteosarcoma. When a wide surgical margin can be used and a functional limb can be salvaged, an amputation probably is not required.