title: Osteosarcoma of the hands and feet: a distinct clinico-pathological subgroup.
abstract: Osteosarcomas of hands or feet are rare, and seemingly these cases differ in presentation and behavior compared to those in usual locations. The clinico-pathological presentation of patients with osteosarcomas of the hand or foot was studied and compared with published cases. Forty osteosarcomas were identified among 4,221 cases, representing 0.95 % of all osteosarcomas. Thirty of these were well documented. Mean age at diagnosis was 43 years (hands) and 36 years (feet) and male-female ratio was 1.2:1 and 2.0:1, respectively. In the hand, 62 % of the osteosarcomas presented in the metacarpals and 23 % in the phalanges, and only two cases occurred in the carpal bones. Distribution in the foot was tarsal bones 56 %, metatarsal bones 33 %, and phalanges 11 %.Of the cases in the hand 54 % were of high grade and of those in the foot 71 %. Survival of osteosarcomas of the hand or foot was 81 %. Only patients with high-grade osteosarcoma died of the disease. Histological grade was the only significant variable related to survival. High-grade osteosarcoma of the hand or feet should be treated similar to those in conventional sites. Osteosarcomas of hands or feet are rare and in a relative high proportion are of low grade. Survival in high-grade cases is comparable to that in conventional sites.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pediatric Haematology and Oncology, Leiden University Medical Center, Leiden, The Netherlands.
authors.forename: Jakob K
authors.initials: JK
authors.lastname: Anninga
authors.forename: Piero
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Picci
authors.forename: Marta
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Fiocco
authors.forename: Herman M J A
authors.initials: HM
authors.lastname: Kroon
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Vanel
authors.forename: Marco
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Alberghini
authors.forename: Hans
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Gelderblom
authors.forename: Pancras C W
authors.initials: PC
authors.lastname: Hogendoorn
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D015331:Cohort Studies; D005260:Female; D005528:Foot; D006225:Hand; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009426:Netherlands / Q000453:epidemiology; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000401:mortality / Q000473:pathology*; D012737:Sex Factors; D015996:Survival Rate; D055815:Young Adult