Epidemiology and some prognostic factors in osteosarcoma in Sweden.

Since 1958, there are about 80 cases of primary malignant bone tumours registered each year to the Central Cancer Registry. During the first 10 years, that is 1958--1968, 242 cases of osteosarcoma were registered (28.8% of all bone tumours--22.9% for chondrosarcoma) the incidence should be calculated at 2-3 cases per 1 million a year. The distribution according to age and sex is the same as found in most western countries. In a group of osteosarcoma patients, Dr Brostrom could study the longitudinal growth from birth until the age of diagnosis and relationship with tooth eruption. It was found that they were statistically identical for the patient and for the controls. An other study demonstrated no difference in the 5-year-survival rate between patients who had an amputation without prior biopsy and those who had a biopsy.