Best Osteosarcoma Doctors in Mysore

Osteosarcoma is a specific type of bone cancer that predominantly affects children and adolescents, specifically during growth spurts in early adolescence. It typically arises in long bones like the shinbone (tibia), thighbone (femur), or upper arm bone (humerus). Factors that increase susceptibility to osteosarcoma include having a family history of cancers, suffering from retinoblastoma (retinal cancer), previous exposure to radiation, etc.

In Mysore, a city renowned for its rich cultural heritage and high quality of life, osteosarcoma cases are actively managed by some of the best doctors for osteosarcoma treatment. Apollo Hospitals takes the lead in providing comprehensive care with experienced orthopaedists and osteosarcoma specialists who are well-versed in the latest treatment methods and are committed to offering the best care.

Types/Stages of Osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma can be categorised based on its location and grade:

• Intramedullary or Central Tumours: These occur within the bone.

• Surface Tumours: These develop on the surface of the bone.

• Extraskeletal Tumours: These arise outside the bone, such as in soft tissues.

The grade of osteosarcoma is determined by how tumour cells appear under a microscope:

• High-Grade Osteosarcoma: Grows quickly with cells that do not resemble average bone cells.

• Intermediate-Grade Osteosarcoma: Less common and treated like low-grade osteosarcomas.

• Low-Grade Osteosarcoma: Grows slowly with cells that look more like regular bones.

Symptoms of Osteosarcoma

Common symptoms of osteosarcoma include:

• Swelling or lumps around bones or the ends of bones

• Bone or joint pain or soreness, often extreme, especially at night

• Unexpected broken bones

• Pain after exercise

• Limping

• Respiratory or breathing problems if the cancer has spread to the lungs

Tests to Diagnose Osteosarcoma

To diagnose osteosarcoma, the best doctors for osteosarcoma treatment at Apollo Hospitals Mysore employ various tests:

• Medical History and Physical Examination: To check for unusual lumps and gather information about the patient's health history.

• Blood Tests: To look for certain biochemical markers that may help confirm a diagnosis.

• X-ray: A standard imaging test for initial diagnosis of osteosarcoma.

• Magnetic Reasonance Imaging: Used for diagnosing osteosarcomas accurately.

• Computed Tomography Scan: Useful for biopsy planning and disease staging.

• Positron Emission Tomography Scan: A full-body scan that helps detect cancer's spread.

• Bone Scan: A sensitive imaging test showing bone abnormalities.

Treatment or Surgery Options for Osteosarcoma at Apollo Hospitals Mysore

The treatment strategy for osteosarcoma described by doctors for osteosarcoma treatment typically involves a combination of chemotherapy and surgery:

• Chemotherapy: Administered before surgery to shrink and destroy cancerous cells. The duration of chemotherapy varies depending on the extent of cancer spread.

• Radiation Therapy: Applied selectively for osteosarcomas that are inoperable or to eliminate remaining tumour cells after surgery.

• Surgery: Performed to remove the tumour and surrounding bone. In most cases, osteosarcoma surgeons at Apollo Hospitals save the affected limb by excising the tumour and replacing the missing bone with an artificial one. Post-surgical chemotherapy may be resumed to eradicate any residual microscopic cancer cells.