Review of management issues in relapsed osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents. With combined modality treatment long-term survival rate for localized disease is near 70%. Thirty percent of patients relapse with lung as the commonest site. Surgery is the treatment of choice for relapsed patients whenever possible. Addition of chemotherapy to surgery provides survival benefit in patients not achieving second surgical remission. Even patients with multiple lung recurrences can be cured with repeated thoracotomies. Disease-free interval and complete surgical resection are the main prognostic factor for post-relapse survival.