Prognostic Factors of Longhi et al for an Elderly Patient with Osteosarcoma

 

Patient selection: osteosarcoma in a patient > 65 years of age

 

Parameters:

(1) stage of the tumor (distant metastases)

(2) tumor volume

(3) surgery

Parameter	Finding	Points
volume	< 150 cubic cm	0
	>= 150 cubic cm	1
distant metastases	absent	0
	present	1
surgery performed	yes	0
	no	1

 

where:

• Patients who did not have surgery may have refused surgery and/or opted for radiation therapy.

 

total number of factors associated with a poor prognosis =

= SUM(points for all 3 parameters)

 

Interpretation:

• minimum number of risk factors: 0

• maximum number of risk factors: 3

• The prognosis gets worse as the number of risk factors increase.

• An elderly patient with osteosarcoma tends to do worse than a younger patient with a comparable tumor. Early diagnosis and aggressive management can improve outcomes.