title: Health status at long-term follow-up in patients treated for extremity localized Ewing Sarcoma or osteosarcoma: a Scandinavian sarcoma group study.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  The purpose of this study was to evaluate late effects and symptom complaints in long-term survivors (>5 years) of Extremity Bone Sarcoma (EBS survivors). The results were compared with findings in age- and gender-matched individuals from the general population (NORMs).
  
  
  METHODS
  Among 155 EBS survivors approached, 133 (86%) were included, and 110 of them (83%) attended an outpatient examination. Health status was evaluated by a mailed questionnaire concerning demographic and current health issues, and physical examinations at the outpatient clinic. Age- and gender-adjusted normative controls were drawn from participants of the Health Study of Nord-Trøndelag County (HUNT 2).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Median age at follow-up was 29 (15-57) years. Median follow-up was 12 (6-22) years. Of EBS survivors 42% had > or =1 somatic disease, 33% had ototoxicity and 13% had reduced renal function. EBS survivors were more likely to have heart disease (odds ratio [OR], 7.9; 95% confidence interval [95% CI], 2.5-25.3; P = 0.001), hypertension (OR, 3.4; 95% CI, 1.1-10.1; P = 0.03) and thyroid disease (OR, 3.0; 95% CI, 1.1-8.3; P = 0.04) compared to NORMs. EBS survivors reported more diarrhoea (29% vs. 19%, P = 0.02), palpitations (23% vs. 13%, P = 0.01) and shortness of breath (11% vs. 5%, P = 0.01) than NORMs.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  EBS survivors have poorer health status compared to age- and gender-matched controls. Long-term follow-up of these patients is therefore mandatory.
authors.affiliation: Department of Oncology, The Norwegian Radium Hospital, Rikshospitalet University Hospital, Oslo, Norway. liv.hege.aksnes@radiumhospitalet.no
authors.forename: L H
authors.initials: LH
authors.lastname: Aksnes
authors.forename: H C F
authors.initials: HC
authors.lastname: Bauer
authors.forename: A A
authors.initials: AA
authors.lastname: Dahl
authors.forename: S D
authors.initials: SD
authors.lastname: Fosså
authors.forename: L
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Hjorth
authors.forename: N
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Jebsen
authors.forename: H
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Lernedal
authors.forename: K Sundby
authors.initials: KS
authors.lastname: Hall