Extraskeletal osteosarcomas: current update

Abstract

Extraskeletal osteosarcomas are cancerous outgrowths (tumors) arising from the soft tissues of the human body, outside the skeletal framework. They closely resemble their counterparts arising from the bone, known as osteosarcomas (osteo: bone; sarcoma: a type of cancer affecting soft tissues) with the exception that they have no bony connections. These tumors are rare, arising most commonly from the extremities (upper and lower limbs). They present with slowly enlarging masses that may be associated with pain. Treatment involves surgery (removal of the tumor alone or the affected limb), use of chemotherapeutic drugs (drugs acting on cancerous cells) and radiotherapy. The outcome of these tumors is poor, with most patients succumbing to disease during follow-up.