[Preservation of the affected limbs in the treatment of osteosarcoma in children].

The pre-operative radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy is effective in reducing the size of tumor and making the tumor resectable. The results achieved with systemic chemotherapy are ultimately reflected in improved survival. Moreover, limb-saving procedure in the treatment of osteosarcoma has become possible with rationality in carefully selected patients. Sixty-seven patients with osteosarcoma within a range of 5 to 27 years of age were treated at Chiba Cancer Center Hospital in the recent 12 year-duration. Seventeen of 67 patients underwent en bloc resection for osteosarcoma of the femur, (12 patients) and the tibia (5 patients). No patients had evidence of local recurrence of the tumor and overall 15 patients are alive without distant metastasis after 9 to 120 months follow-up. Based on the effective chemotherapy schedule, the limb salvation in the treatment of osteosarcoma is most desirable if it is indicated without risk of decreased radicality of the treatment.