PRIMARY MALIGNANT TUMORS OF THE LONG BONES

Abstract
Periosteal sarcoma of the long bones has long been recognized as one of the most malignant of all tumors. The prognosis in this type has been regarded by surgeons as practically hopeless, even early amputation at the proximal articulation rarely saving the life of the patient. With the advent of the roentgen ray—which was soon recognized as the greatest aid to the surgeon in making an early diagnosis—it was hoped that better results would be obtained by reason of earlier amputation. These hopes, however, have not been realized, and in spite of early amputation, practically all the patients have died of metastases within a few months or a year after the operation. The end-results of operative treatment of sarcoma of the long bones, as reported at a symposium on long bone sarcoma before the Royal College of Surgeons in November, 1912, and a second symposium before the Association of British