Case 4

Osteosarcoma: Femur
Usually osteosarcomas are detectable on x-ray after the newly formed bone calcifies. In this case, not enough osteoid tissue is formed so that instead one can see a large hole in the femur. In this case the malignant cells have dissolved the bone tissue and failed to form enough new osteoid tissue. As in all cases, a tissue biopsy is necessary to confirm the pathological diagnosis. This provides an example when the x-ray lesion (here radiolucent) is not classic for osteosarcoma.

 

The osteosarcoma has broken through the cortical layer and has extended into the adjacent soft tissue. If the cancer is not treated or surgically removed, it can spread to other organs. This process is known as metastasis.
 
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