Osteosarcoma (OSA) is a malignant tumor of bone-forming cells and the most common primary bone tumor of dogs. It typically strikes the long-bone metaphyses of large and giant breeds, causes severe bone pain, and has almost always spread microscopically to the lungs by the time it is diagnosed. That combination explains every treatment decision on the NAVLE: control the painful limb, then treat the metastases you cannot yet see.
Key facts
Osteosarcoma at a glance- Species and system: dog; musculoskeletal (bone). Over 80% of canine bone tumors are OSA.
- Who: large and giant breeds, median age about 9–10 years, with a small second peak in young dogs (under about 3 years).
- Where: metaphysis of the distal radius and proximal humerus most often ("away from the elbow"), then the distal femur and the tibia ("toward the knee"). Forelimbs are affected about twice as often as hindlimbs.
- Classic presentation: progressive forelimb lameness with a firm, painful swelling just above the carpus in an older Rottweiler or Great Dane.
- Behavior: locally destructive and highly metastatic; micrometastases are thought to be present in nearly all dogs at diagnosis, but only about 10% have metastases visible on chest radiographs.
- Not zoonotic and not reportable.
What's inside
12 sections in the full guide- Key facts
- How the NAVLE tests this
- Cause and pathophysiology
- Clinical signs
- Diagnosis
- Differential diagnoses
- Treatment and management
- Prevention, control and public health
- Prognosis
- Quick review
- Test yourself
- References
The full guide also has 5 tables, 2 figures, 3 self-test questions and 26 references, available to NAVLE members.
Read the full study guide
The full guide is part of every NAVLE plan, with diagnosis and treatment tables, figures, a quick review and self-test questions. Start a free trial to try the question bank, or log in if you are already a member.