What examinations should be done for osteosarcoma

Some patients usually feel joint pain, swelling and lumps after a few days or weeks, varicose veins in the late stage, local skin temperature rises and congestion and redness, and they suspect osteosarcoma. But they don't know how to go to the hospital for examination and what items to check. Let's take a look at what examinations should be done for osteosarcoma.

For patients with osteosarcoma, we often use erythrocyte sedimentation rate, alkaline phosphatase, and trace element analysis of copper and zinc ratio as dynamic observation indicators.

1. ESR: In the early stage of osteosarcoma, sclerotic osteosarcoma, and well-differentiated osteosarcoma, the ESR rate can be within the normal range. If the tumor is too large, poorly differentiated, or has metastasis, the ESR rate will be accelerated. The ESR rate can be used as a dynamic observation indicator during the development of osteosarcoma, but it is not very sensitive.

2. Alkaline phosphatase: The examination of alkaline phosphatase is the most meaningful. The change of its level is closely related to the activity of tumor bone cells. It is also of certain value in judging the prognosis of patients. However, in children, due to vigorous growth and development, the level of alkaline phosphatase may be affected.

3. X-ray: The basic manifestation is a combination of new bone formation and osteolytic destruction. Eccentric osteoporosis at the epiphysis of the long bone, followed by osteolytic destruction and bone sclerosis, with blurred edges. When the bone cortex is destroyed, soft tissue shadows and irregular periosteal reactions can be seen, presenting as codman triangles or solar radiation shadows.