The treatment of osteosarcoma of the extremities: twenty year's experience at the Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli.

Twenty year's (1959-1979) experience in the treatment of osteosarcoma at the Bone Tumor Center of the Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli is presented. During this period 433 cases were recorded, but only 266 were considered. All the patients underwent surgery but after 1970 whole-lung irradiation (1971), immunotherapy (1971), and chemotherapy (1972 onward) were added as adjuvant therapies on a nonrandomized basis.

Adamantinoma of the long bones. The experience at the Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli.

All cases of adamantinoma seen at the Istituto Ortopedico Rizzoli were retrospectively reviewed. Although this tumor is exceedingly rare, nine cases were collected. The tumor is composed of four histological patterns: spindle, basaloid, squamoid, and tubular.

Clear cell chondrosarcoma.

Three cases of clear cell chondrosarcoma are presented. This variety of chondrosarcoma should be differentiated most of all from chondroblastoma and osteoblastoma.

[Tetraventricular ependymoma. Presentation of a case].

The clinical study of encephalic ependymoma shows that cases present with polymorphous clinical pictures depending on intra and/or periventricular tumoural growth, generally such as to hinder precise diagnosis during life, unless under direct control, or, currently, using computerized axial tomography. The reported case, completed by macro and microscopic autoptic study, takes on particular importance because the neoplasia involved all encephalic ventricular cavities. This exceptional localisation and extension, only gave an aspecific clinical picture, dominated by the presence of a slight internal communicating type hydrocephalus and immediate general convulsive signs.

Giant cell reaction of bone.

Six cases of giant cell reaction of bone are presented. These are osteolytic lesions that affect the bones of the hand and foot. They are characterised by fibroblastic proliferation with the production of osteoid substance and bone, with abundant giant cells but no atypical cells.

Dedifferentiated chondrosarcomas.

The authors report twenty five cases of dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma, illustrating the principal clinical, radiographic and histological features. The prognosis is particularly grave in this neoplasm: the only correct therapy is radical removal of the tumour by amputation or disarticulation.

"Atypical" eosinophil granuloma (description of two cases).

Two cases of histiocytosis X are reported. One affected a single bone, the other several bones. Both had the usual radiographic appearances, but a somewhat alarming cytological picture.

Malignant degeneration in fibrous dysplasia (presentation of 6 cases and review of the literature).

Malignant degeneration of fibrous dysplasia is rare. It occurs with similar frequency at all ages and in both sexes. It is more frequent in cases of polyostotic than in monostotic fibrous dysplasia.

[Myxomas of the jaws. 10 cases and differential diagnostic evaluations].

Ten cases of myxoma of the jaw bones are presented. After an examination of the anatomical-clinical-radiological aspects and the micro- and macroscopic pathological anatomy, the authors present a histopathological differential diagnosis and in particular demonstrate that a diagnosis of myxoma is based upon its localization and the exclusion of any benign and malignant lesions due to myxoid. Conservative excision is the preferred treatment.

Myxoid variety of malignant fibrous soft tissue histiocytoma.

Three cases of the myxoid variety of malignant fibrous histiocytoma (I.F.M.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone.

Eleven cases of malignant fibrous histiocytoma of bone observed during recent years are reported. An analysis is presented with regard to sex, age, site, symptoms, radiography, macroscopic and microscopic aspects. The differential diagnosis is discussed on the basis of these criteria.

Primary malignant mesenchymoma of bone (case report).

A case of primary malignant mesenchymoma of bone is reported. It's a very rare kind of tumor of which only four cases were previously reported in the literature. It's a malignant neoplasm where histological aspects of both liposarcoma and osteosarcoma coexist.

Haemangioma of bone with radiographic appearances simulating a giant cell tumour.

A case is described of haemangioma of the proximal end of the humerus which simulated a giant cell tumour on radiography. An attempt at biopsy, carried out elsewhere, had failed because of severe haemorrhage from the tumour during operation. It was treated by en bloc resection and endoprosthesis with a good result after one year.

Ewing's sarcoma of the soft tissues? Case report.

A case is reported of a malignant tumour of the soft tissues of the leg, with histological and pathological features comparable with those of Ewing's sarcoma of bone. This extension of the term Ewing's sarcoma to the soft tissues is proposed and the differential diagnosis is discussed.