Typical symptoms of osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma patients often rush to the doctor for examination and treatment only after they experience some physical symptoms. In fact, understanding the typical symptoms of osteosarcoma can help us detect the disease early and seek medical treatment in time. Let me introduce to you the typical symptoms of osteosarcoma.

Pain is an early symptom and may occur before the tumor appears. It is intermittent pain at first, and gradually turns into continuous severe pain, especially at night. Pain of large malignant tumors occurs earlier and is more severe, often with a history of local trauma. The tumor near the bone end near the joint is large, with varying hardness, tenderness, high local temperature, dilated veins, and sometimes pulsation can be felt, and there may be pathological fractures. The overall health gradually declines to failure, and most patients have lung metastasis within a year.

Early symptoms are intermittent numbness and pain in the affected area, which then turns into persistent severe pain accompanied by reflex pain; the tumor grows rapidly, destroying the alveolar process and jawbone, causing loose and displaced teeth, facial deformity, and pathological fractures. On X-rays, irregular destruction that expands from the inside to the outside is osteolytic; destruction of the bone cortex, replaced by hyperplastic bone, and arranged in a solar radiation pattern is osteoblastic. Clinically, a mixed type with both of the above types can also be seen. In the late stage, serum calcium and alkaline phosphatase may be elevated in patients, and the tumor is prone to metastasize to the lungs along the blood vessels.

The course of the disease varies from a few days to several years from the onset of symptoms to the time of treatment, with an average of 3 to 4 months. The most common site is around the knee joint. The earliest clinical symptom is pain, which is mostly dull and persistent, and the pain worsens after activity. The pain is more obvious at night. A lump appears in the affected area, and the growth rate of the lump is often measured in months. When the lump increases significantly, reactive effusion may occur in the adjacent joints, and joint movement is limited. Early pain often occurs suddenly after a minor injury. The swelling starts mildly and gradually worsens, presenting an eccentric spindle-shaped swelling. The hardness of the lump varies, depending on the texture of the tumor. Osteolytic lesions are softer than osteoblasts. The skin of the affected area is shiny, the surface veins are dilated, and the skin temperature rises. If the tumor is large and adjacent to the joint, it may affect joint function. Some patients have metastases to other parts when they seek medical treatment.

The size of the tumor may vary depending on the depth of the tumor and the extent of the tumor's invasion of soft tissue. The tumor is accompanied by tenderness, and its hardness varies depending on the amount of bone tissue contained in the tumor. When the tumor is large, blood vessels on the skin surface may become dilated.

Only by understanding the early symptoms of osteosarcoma can we better detect and treat it in time. Once you find that you have osteosarcoma, you should go to a regular hospital for examination and treatment in time.