Todayโs path rounds is on ๐จ๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐จ๐ฌ๐๐ซ๐๐จ๐ฆ๐, inspired by a case I had this week!
๐๐ก๐๐ญ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
Osteosarcomas are tumours that arise directly from the bone. They most commonly develop from the long bones, like the femur or radius, however they can develop from any bone in the body! These tumours very commonly ๐ฆ๐๐ญ๐๐ฌ๐ญ๐๐ฌ๐ข๐ณ๐ (spread to other organs), particularly to the lungs.
๐๐ก๐จ ๐ ๐๐ญ๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ?
These tumours are most common in dogs and cats, particularly large and giant breed dogs. They can be found in other species though!
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐๐ข๐๐ ๐ง๐จ๐ฌ๐๐?
Typically, osteosarcoma is initially suspected based on an X-ray. Then the veterinarian can take a ๐๐ข๐จ๐ฉ๐ฌ๐ฒ (small piece of the tissue) or an ๐๐ฌ๐ฉ๐ข๐ซ๐๐ญ๐ (poking it with a needle to gather cells) to send to a pathologist for analysis.We look at the sample under a microscope to see what kinds of cells are present. If the cells have ๐๐๐๐ญ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐ฌ ๐จ๐ ๐ฆ๐๐ฅ๐ข๐ ๐ง๐๐ง๐๐ฒ (look like nasty, no-good cells), then we may be able to make a diagnosis of osteosarcoma.
๐๐จ๐ฐ ๐ข๐ฌ ๐ข๐ญ ๐ญ๐ซ๐๐๐ญ๐๐?
Typically, osteosarcomas on the limbs are treated by amputating the leg. Osteosarcomas in other sites can sometimes be surgically removed, however it is a much more painstaking process than simply removing a limb! Animals are also able to receive chemotherapy to help treat these tumours.
๐๐ก๐จ๐ญ๐จ๐ฌ
1) A radiograph (X-ray) showing a massive tumour at the end of the bone.
2) A radiograph (X-ray) showing metastases of the tumour to the lungs. Those big white nodules should not be there!
3) A microscopic view of an aspirate from an osteosarcoma, showing mean looking tumour cells.
4 and 5) Cross sections of bones with osteosarcoma, showing large tumours!
๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ซ๐๐๐ฌ
Zachary, J.F. Pathologic Basis of Veterinary Disease, Sixth Edition.
Photo 1 courtesy of University of Calgary Veterinary Medicine Diagnostic Services Unit.
Photos 2-5 courtesy of Noahโs Arkive.
