Can conventional radiographs be used to monitor the effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in patients with osteogenic sarcoma?
OBJECTIVE
The objective of this study was to assess the effectiveness of conventional radiography in predicting histopathologic response in patients with osteogenic sarcoma who were treated with preoperative chemotherapy.


METHODS
The radiographs of 22 patients with an osteogenic sarcoma, taken before and after neoadjuvant chemotherapy, were reviewed. Tumour location, size, radiographic appearance, margination, cortical destruction and periosteal reaction were evaluated. The findings were correlated with the histopathologic response of the surgical specimen.


RESULTS
None of the findings proved to be of predictive value for the histopathologic response. Increase in tumour diameter and increase in ossification and/or calcification, which were seen in more than half of the patients, did not correlate with response.


CONCLUSIONS
Conventional radiographs do not contribute to the identification of good or poor responders.
Holscher
H C
HC
Department of Diagnostic Radiology and Nuclear Medicine, University Hospital, Leiden, The Netherlands.
Hermans
J
J
Nooy
M A
MA
Taminiau
A H
AH
Hogendoorn
P C
PC
Bloem
J L
JL
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000971:Antineoplastic Combined Chemotherapy Protocols / Q000627:therapeutic use; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D017024:Chemotherapy, Adjuvant; D016903:Drug Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D005260:Female; D005266:Femoral Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D005269:Femur / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D005360:Fibula / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging* / Q000188:drug therapy* / Q000601:surgery; D011300:Preoperative Care; D011859:Radiography; D012074:Remission Induction; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013977:Tibia / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging