Musculoskeletal CT Appearances
Osteosarcoma CT Findings
- Cloud-like pattern of mineralization
- “Sunburst” appearance with a triangular form of periosteal reaction (“Codman’s triangle”)
- Increased soft tissue density
- Lesions may be found in same bone but separate from tumor (“skip lesions”)
- Most commonly found in the long bones around the knees and shoulder
Other Information About Osteosarcoma
Etiology:
- Unknown
- Associated with hereditary retinoblastoma, Bloom syndrome, Li-Fraumeni syndrome, Rothmund-Thomson syndrome, and Werner syndrome
- Also associated with radiation exposure
Epidemiology:
- Bimodal: common in adolescence and again after age 65
- Slightly more common in males
- Slightly more common in people of African ancestry
Presentation:
- Bone or joint pain
- Palpable mass
- Nocturnal pain
- Swelling
- Bone fractures without a known cause
Prognosis:
- The relative 5-year survival rates are:
- Localized: 76%
- Regional: 64%
- Distant: 24%
- All SEER stages combined: 59%