Early Detection, Diagnosis, and Staging of Osteosarcoma

Learn about the signs and symptoms of osteosarcoma, the tests that may be done for it, and the outlook for those with a diagnosis.

Can osteosarcoma be found early?

At this time, there is no widely recommended screening test for osteosarcoma. Screening is testing for cancer in people without any symptoms.

Osteosarcoma is often found because a person has signs or symptoms that prompt a visit to the doctor, such as a lump, swelling, or bone pain. The doctor may then order tests, such as an x-ray, which might suggest osteosarcoma as the cause.

For people at increased risk of osteosarcoma

Some people are at an increased risk because they have certain bone diseases or inherited conditions (listed in Causes, Risk Factors, and Prevention of Osteosarcoma). Doctors might recommend that these people watch for signs and symptoms of this disease through regular visits with a doctor or, in some cases, testing. For example, people with Li-Fraumeni syndrome are encouraged to have annual whole-body MRI imaging tests to look for early tumors. Tumors that can be caught early may need less treatment or treatment may be more likely to be successful.

What are the signs and symptoms of osteosarcoma?

The most common symptoms of osteosarcoma are:

• A lump or swelling of the bone
• Bone pain

Many osteosarcomas occur on the bones of the arm or leg, so tumors in this area may be seen or felt when they grow. In some cases, a broken bone may be the first symptom of an osteosarcoma tumor, since these tumors can weaken the bone. A challenge in recognizing osteosarcoma is that symptoms are similar to other conditions, such as sports injuries, which are much more common, particularly in adolescents and young adults.

Many of these symptoms may be due to other causes, but it’s important to check with a doctor to find the cause.

How is osteosarcoma diagnosed?

Diagnosing osteosarcoma often involves imaging and blood tests, as well as a biopsy of the tumor to confirm the diagnosis. If osteosarcoma is confirmed on biopsy, more detailed tests will be done to learn more about it and how best to treat it.

Imaging tests are also used during and after treatment to help track how well treatment is working.

Stages and outlook for osteosarcoma

After an osteosarcoma diagnosis, many people want to understand what to expect. The tests used to diagnose osteosarcoma and look for spread are also used to describe a tumor by stage (extent). There are a few staging systems used for bone tumors. This information can be used to plan treatment and estimate prognosis (outlook).

Survival rates are a way to measure how many people survive a certain type of cancer over time. Survival rates are often reported as 5-year survival rates, which refer to the percentage of people who live at least 5 years after their cancer diagnosis. Of course, many people live much longer than 5 years (and the vast majority who live beyond 5 years will not have osteosarcoma come back). Some people find this information helpful, while others prefer to focus on treatment plans and next steps.