Osteosarcoma in New Zealand: an outcome study comparing survival rates between 1981-1987 and 1994-1999.
OBJECTIVE
To review the data and outcome of patients with osteosarcoma in New Zealand from 1994 to 1999 and to compare this to data retrieved from a similar study from 1981 to 1987.


METHODS
Data from 1994-1999 was obtained from the New Zealand Cancer Registry; raw data was also retrieved from the 1981-1987 study.


RESULTS
There were 96 cases in the 1981-1987 cohort and 84 cases in the 1994-1999 cohort. Overall, 5-year survival from osteosarcoma improved from 32.3% to 44.0% between the cohorts. When the cohorts were compared, there was a trend toward improved outcome in most subgroups


CONCLUSIONS
The outcome in patients with osteosarcoma in New Zealand has improved over the study period and is similar to that seen in the overseas literature.
Curry
Hamish
H
Christchurch Hospital, Christchurch. hamishcurry@gmail.com
Horne
Geoffrey
G
Devane
Peter
P
Tobin
Helen
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D017677:Age Distribution; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D007231:Infant, Newborn; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009520:New Zealand / Q000453:epidemiology; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000401:mortality* / Q000628:therapy; D017063:Outcome Assessment, Health Care; D012042:Registries; D017678:Sex Distribution; D016019:Survival Analysis