16-year-Male presented with Swelling in right upper limb since 5 months, increasing in size since then, Episodes of high grade of fever and weakness in right upper limb

16-year-Male presented with Swelling in right upper limb since 5 months, increasing in size since then, Episodes of high grade of fever and weakness in right upper limb

16-year-Male presented with Swelling in right upper limb since 5 months, increasing in size since then, Episodes of high grade of fever and weakness in right upper limb

No history of trauma

  • X-ray showing prominent soft tissue shadow at the level of proximal 1/3rd humeral shaft region. No bony abnormality.
  • A large altered signal intensity soft tissue lesion arising from the diaphysis of mid shaft region of humerus in posterior aspect with shallow surface cortical erosions, and spiculated periosteal reaction.
  • The lesion demonstrates T2/STIR heterogeneous hyperintense signal and T1 hypointense signal with few cystic spaces. Multiple flow voids noted within lesion ( *). Mild intramedullary edema however no intramedullary extension.

DIAGNOSIS

  • Periosteal osteosarcoma.

DISCUSSION
Parosteal osteosarcoma

  • Rare, malignant, intermediate-grade, surface osteosarcomas that occur most commonly on the diaphysis of the femur and tibia.
  • Second most common type of surface-based osteosarcoma after parosteal osteosarcoma.
  • Account for 1-2% of all osteosarcomas.
  • Periosteal osteosarcomas are seen in a wide age range from the first to the seventh decade with a peak in the second decade of life. Most common 15 to 25 years.
  • The femur and tibia are the most common sites
  • Patients typically present between the with regional pain and swelling.

Diagnostic criteria according to the WHO classification of soft tissue and bone tumors (5th edition):

  • Imaging features of a bone tumor
  • Histology of an intermediate-grade mostly chondroblastic osteosarcoma
  • Origin from the surface of the bone under the periosteum
  • Typically involves the diaphysis of long tubular bones

Radiographic features

  • Broad-based cortically attached tumor with a partially mineralized soft tissue mass
  • Extrinsic erosion of thickened underlying diaphyseal cortex with a surface-base crater
  • Perpendicular or spiculated periosteal reaction
  •  Usually involves ~50% of the cortical circumference 
  • Intramedullary extension is rare

Radiographs shows a lesion that has a classic "sunburst or "hair on end" periosteal reaction.

  • Treatment is usually neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, limb salvage surgical resection, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy.
  • 20-35% chance of pulmonary metastasis
  • Intermediate prognosis between parosteal and intramedullary osteosarcoma

   Parosteal osteosarcoma   

  • Low grade 
  • Sclerotic lesion over the surface of bone.
  • Thickening of the cortex and presence of a periosteal line between the tumor and the normal bone (string sign). 

Periosteal osteosarcoma.

  • Intermediate grade
  • Broad based soft tissue mass
  • Destruction of underlying bone with perpendicular periosteal reaction going into the soft tissue mass

References

  • Bonar SFM, Klein MJ, O’Donell PG. Periosteal osteosarcoma. In: WHO Classification of Tumours Editorial Board. Soft tissue and bone tumours. Lyon (France): International Agency for Research on Cancer; 2020. (WHO classification of tumours series, 5th ed.; vol. 3). https://publications.iarc.fr
  • MD/PhD, P. O. (n.d.). Periosteal osteosarcoma - Pathology - orthobullets. https://www.orthobullets.com/pathology/8016/periosteal-osteosarcoma
  • Fox M & Trotta B. Osteosarcoma: Review of the Various Types with Emphasis on Recent Advancements in Imaging. Semin Musculoskelet Radiol. 2013;17(2):123-36. doi:10.1055/s-0033-1342969 - Pubmed
  • Harper K, Sathiadoss P, Saifuddin A, Sheikh A. A Review of Imaging of Surface Sarcomas of Bone. Skeletal Radiol. 2021;50(1):9-28. doi:10.1007/s00256-020-03546-1 - Pubmed
  • Murphey M, Jelinek J, Temple H, Flemming D, Gannon F. Imaging of Periosteal Osteosarcoma: Radiologic-Pathologic Comparison. Radiology. 2004;233(1):129-38. doi:10.1148/radiol.2331030326 - Pubmed

DR DEEPTI H V
Senior Consultant MHRG

DR ANKIT KATARIA
Cross-sectional fellow MHRG