Von Scheele BG, Martin RD, Gilsenan AW, Ceberg J, Andrews EB, Masica D, Alvegård T. The European postmarketing adult osteosarcoma surveillance study characteristics of patients: a preliminary report. Acta Orthop. 2009;80:67-74.


The Scandinavian Sarcoma Group (SSG) registry participates in a multinational postmarketing drug surveillance study evaluating potential medication exposures (including teriparatide) in a population-based series of adult osteosarcoma cases. We present preliminary data from this study. The SSG registry systematically identifies eligible cases in collaboration with regional and national cancer registries in Sweden, Norway, Denmark, Finland, and Iceland. All cases aged ?: 40 years initially diagnosed in January 2004 or later with histologically confirmed osteosarcoma or 5 other prespecified types of bone sarcomas are eligible. Data were collected from the medical records. This review includes all information abstracted to date from patient records of 49 of 85 cases diagnosed between January 2004 and September 2008 (estimated to be all reported adult cases). All patients were Caucasian, mean age 59 (41-88 years), the majority were men. The most prevalent morphology subtypes were osteosarcoma NOS and chondroblastic osteosarcoma. Leg bones were the most frequent tumor site. Potential risk factors for osteosarcoma included prior history of cancer (27%), radiation treatment (24%), or prior injury or infection at the site of the tumor (14%). Site of prior radiation treatment and osteosarcoma tumor matched for 7/9 cases. One prior history of Paget's disease was reported. Treatment with teriparatide before diagnosis had not been reported. Data collected in this study present population based demographic and risk-factor data and are consistent with prior research reporting a link between radiation site and tumor site, and a possible association between osteosarcoma and prior history of cancer, and prior injury or infection at the site of the tumor.

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