Osteosarcoma is not a common cancer. Each year, about 900 new cases of osteosarcoma are diagnosed in the United States. About 400 of these are in children and adolescents younger than 20 years old.

Most osteosarcomas occur in children and young adults between the ages of 10 and 30. Teenagers are the most commonly affected age group, but osteosarcoma can occur at any age. About 10% of all osteosarcomas occur in people over the age of 60.

Osteosarcomas account for about 3% of childhood cancers, but they make up a much smaller percentage of adult cancers.

Last Medical Review: 01/14/2009
Last Revised: 01/14/2009