Osteosarcoma in preadolescent patients: experience in a single institute in Taiwan.
BACKGROUND
The incidence of osteosarcoma peaks in adolescence and is much lower in preadolescence. However, reports on its clinical features in preadolescent patients are conflicting. In this study, we attempted to assess the differences in clinical appearance and prognosis of the malignancy between preadolescent and adolescent patients.


METHODS
Between January 1980 and January 2006, 13 preadolescent and 58 adolescent patients with high-grade osteosarcoma were treated at our institute, and their medical records were reviewed and compared.


RESULTS
The sex distribution, primary metastasis rate, pathologic fracture, histologic type, primary tumor location, and percentage of high alkaline phosphatase level were not different between the 2 groups. Poor responders (tumor necrosis rate < 90%) were more common in the preadolescent group (80% vs. 43%, p = 0.035). Overall survival rates in the preadolescent and adolescent groups were 51.3% and 56.4%, respectively (p = 0.735). In patients without primary metastasis, the 5-year overall survival rates were 60.6% and 66.7% for 11 preadolescents and 39 adolescents, respectively (p = 0.925).


CONCLUSIONS
Considering the common findings in both groups, we suggest that preadolescent patients should be treated with the same regimen as that used for adolescent patients.
Hsieh
Ming-Yun
MY
Department of Pediatrics, Far Eastern Memorial Hospital, Taipei, Taiwan, ROC.
Hung
Giun-Yi
GY
Yen
Hsiu-Ju
HJ
Chen
Wei-Ming
WM
Chen
Tain-Hsiung
TH
D000293:Adolescent; D000367:Age Factors; D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase / Q000032:analysis; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology / Q000628:therapy*; D015996:Survival Rate
D000469:Alkaline Phosphatase