Osteogenic Sarcoma at 40x Magnification

Formerly the primary treatment for osteogenic sarcoma was complete limb amputation. Over the last several decades, however, advances in the medical field have resulted in a significant reduction of amputations related to the disease. It is now often possible for surgeons to remove the tumor and a small area of healthy tissue surrounding it, instead of the whole bone that contains the tumor. Moreover, any bone tissue that is lost may usually be replaced through a bone graft or an artificial implant. For individuals who have tumors of the bone that are not well suited for surgical removal, chemotherapy or radiotherapy is typically employed. Such techniques are sometimes utilized following surgery, as well, in order to ensure that any remaining malignant cells are destroyed.