A REVIEW ON BONE CANCER DIAGNOSIS AND TREATMENT

Jyoti Burnwal*, Rakesh Kumar Sahu, Piyush Kumar Pathak, Ritu Raj, Sudhir Singh, Kundan Kumar, Ankit Kumar

Primary bone cancers, predominantly comprising osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma, and chondrosarcoma, represent a rare yet clinically formidable group of malignancies accounting for less than 1% of all cancer diagnoses. Despite their low incidence, these tumors are characterized by significant morbidity and high mortality rates, largely driven by diagnostic delays. Such delays often stem from a combination of late patient presentation, non-specific symptoms that masquerade as common musculoskeletal injuries, and a generally low index of clinical suspicion among primary care providers. Plain radiography remains the gold-standard initial diagnostic tool, where any suspicion of malignancy necessitates immediate referral to specialized centers for multidisciplinary intervention. Current therapeutic protocols—incorporating neoadjuvant and adjuvant chemotherapy alongside advanced surgical techniques have revolutionized outcomes for localized disease, achieving survival rates of approximately 80% and enabling limb-salvage in 90% to 95% of patients. However, the prognosis remains heavily contingent on the presence of metastasis, particularly in the pediatric and adolescent populations most affected by osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma, where five-year survival drops to 20%–30%. In contrast, chondrosarcoma primarily affects adults over 40 and typically carries a more favorable prognosis due to its presentation as a low-grade lesion. This abstract emphasizes that improving the diagnostic window and maintaining high radiographic vigilance are essential for optimizing survival and functional outcomes.