Bone Cancer Research Today is a free monthly online journal that collates and summarizes the latest research about Bone Cancer, including details on symptoms, types, treatment.

Osteosarcoma metastatic to the kidney and iatrogenic hemorrhage.

Marec-Bérard P, Crassard N, Schell M, Philip T, Thiesse P, Ranchin B, Frappaz D

Department of Pediatrics, Centre Léon Bérard, Lyon Cedex, France. marec@lyon.fnclcc.fr

A 16-year old female presented painful masses in the lumbar region 5 years after the initial diagnosis of a localized osteosarcoma of the tibia. Abdominal X-ray revealed calcified masses. A bone scan confirmed an increased uptake in the renal areas. An ultrasound-guided fine needle biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of metastases. The procedure was complicated by subcapsular hemorrhage and gross hematuria. Renal metastases from osteosarcoma are usually asymptomatic and invisible on abdominal X-rays. The diagnosis is generally established by radionuclide bone scan or abdominal CT-scan. Our observation suggests that histological documentation of these unusual clinical presentations should be carefully weighed against the risk of the procedure.

Published 15 January 2008 in Pediatr Blood Cancer, 50(3): 690-2.
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