Osteosarcoma Treatments
Treatment depends on:
- Type and stage of cancer
- Location of cancer
- Your overall health
UPMC's neurosurgical team may recommend a combination of surgical and non-surgical approaches to treat osteosarcoma.
Minimally invasive surgery
Surgery for osteosarcomas involves the removal of the cancerous tumor and nearby tissues.
Osteosarcomas of the skull base may be approached directly using Endoscopic Endonasal Approach (EEA). This state-of-the-art, minimally invasive treatment approach allows surgeons to access the tumor through the natural corridor of the nose, without making an open incision. Surgeons then remove the osteosarcoma through the nose and nasal cavities.
EEA offers the benefits of no incisions to heal, no disfigurement, and a faster recovery time.
If you need complementary treatments, such as radiation and chemotherapy, those therapies can begin soon after EEA surgery.
At UPMC, we look at your condition from every direction to find the treatment path that is least disruptive to your brain, critical nerves, and your ability to return to normal functioning. We aim to maximize the benefits of surgery while minimizing risks.
Chemotherapy and radiation therapy
If the osteosarcoma is large, aggressive, or the risk of spread is high, chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be added. This will help prevent a recurrence at the site of surgery and also prevent spread to other organs.
Chemotherapy given before and after surgery will often cure osteosarcoma.
