title: Osteosarcoma: Accurately diagnosing this bone-chilling disease.
abstract: Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone malignancy in children and adolescents. Because the incidence of osteosarcoma is low and the disease occurs in physically active patients, it may be misdiagnosed as a more benign condition, thus leading to late diagnosis. This article describes the disease's most frequent presenting complaints and initial radiographic findings, as well as its risk factors and common misdiagnoses. Clinicians should consider osteosarcoma in young patients with persistent bone pain, especially pain with weight-bearing.
authors.affiliation: Chelsea Hiller practices family medicine at the Scripps Clinic in San Diego, Calif. Jennifer L. Wegler is a clinical instructor of family medicine in the PA program at the University of Southern California in Alhambra, Calif., and practices orthopedics at Kaiser-Permanente in Baldwin Park, Calif. Christopher P. Forest is an assistant professor of clinical family medicine and director of research at the University of Southern California's Keck School of Medicine and practices urgent care and family medicine in Los Angeles, Calif. The authors have disclosed no potential conflicts of interest, financial or otherwise.
authors.forename: Chelsea
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hiller
authors.forename: Jennifer L
authors.initials: JL
authors.lastname: Wegler
authors.forename: Christopher P
authors.initials: CP
authors.lastname: Forest
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy; D002648:Child; D057210:Delayed Diagnosis; D003951:Diagnostic Errors; D006801:Humans; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000628:therapy