Abstract
Background: Extra skeletal osteosarcomas are rare malignancies that account for less than 1% of all soft tissue sarcomas. We describe this tumour arising in the belly of vastus medialis muscle in a 56-year-old woman.
Case report: A 56 year old, otherwise healthy teacher was referred to this regional soft tissue sarcoma unit regarding a progressively enlarging mass in her right thigh. She had noticed this swelling 12 months ago, which remained pain free. On examination there was a firm swelling on the medial side of the thigh measuring 6 cm in diameter. There was no regional lymphadinopathy. MRI scan was reported as a probable soft tissue sarcoma arising from vastus medialis. An open biopsy was reported as a sarcoma of chondroid differentiation but a specific diagnosis of extraskeletal osteosarcoma was reached only after definitive tumour resection. She was treated by wide resection, post operative radiotherapy and combined chemotherapy. At 24 months of follow up she remained tumour free.
Relevant literature is reviewed.
The abstracts were prepared by Mr Roger Tillman. Correspondence should be addressed to BOOS at the Royal College of Surgeons, 35–43 Lincoln’s Inn Fields, London WC2A 3PN
