The prognosis in osteosarcoma: Norwegian national data

Abstract

Reports on the varying effect of adjuvant chemotherapy in the treatment of osteosarcomas led the authors to analyze survival experience in osteosarcomas on a national level. Data from the Norwegian Cancer Registry, covering the total population of Norway (4 million), were analyzed. There appeared to be no significant changes in survival from 1953 to 1975. For the period 1975–1977, the 48-month survival time improved from 25% for the three preceding five-year periods to 47%. Possible changes in diagnostics and reporting seem to have had little effect on the occurrence of the disease. Improvement in short-time survival was therefore considered attributable to adjuvant chemotherapy introduced in 1975 and its accompanying procedures of early amputation, intensified clinical follow-up, and possible surgery on metastases. The partial contribution of these treatment elements could not be ascertained.