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Osteosarcoma - Overview

Nombres alternativos

Sarcoma osteógeno

Definición:

Es un tumor óseo canceroso (maligno) que generalmente se desarrolla durante el período de crecimiento rápido que ocurre en la adolescencia, a medida que el joven madura para convertirse en adulto.

Causas:

El osteosarcoma es el tumor óseo canceroso (maligno) más común en la juventud y la edad promedio de diagnóstico es a los 15 años. La incidencia de este tumor niños y niñas es similar hasta finales de la adolescencia, etapa en la cual resultan afectados con mayor frecuencia los varones. Existe otro punto máximo de incidencia entre los adultos hacia los 60 y 70 años.

No se conoce la causa. En algunos casos, es hereditario y al menos un gen ha sido relacionado con el aumento del riesgo. Este gen también se asocia con el retinoblastoma familiar, un cáncer ocular que se presenta en niños.

El osteosarcoma tiende a ocurrir en los huesos de:

  • La espinilla (cerca de la rodilla)
  • El muslo (cerca de la rodilla)
  • El brazo (cerca del hombro)

Este cáncer se presenta con más frecuencia en los huesos más grandes y en el área del hueso con el índice de crecimiento más rápido. Sin embargo, el osteosarcoma se puede presentar en cualquier hueso.

  • Reviewed last on: 3/18/2011
  • A.D.A.M. Editorial Team: David Zieve, MD, MHA, and David R. Eltz. Previously reviewed by David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital (12/28/2010).

Referencias

Baker MH. Bone tumors: primary and metastatic bone lesions. In: Goldman L, Ausiello D, eds. Cecil Medicine. 23rd ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Saunders Elsevier; 2007:chap 212.

Gebhardt MC, Springfield D, Neff JR. Sarcomas of the bone. In: Abeloff MD, Armitage JO, Niederhuber JE, Kastan MB, McKenna WG, eds. Abeloff's Clinical Oncology. 4th ed. Philadelphia, Pa: Elsevier Churchill Livingstone, 2008;chap 96.

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