Unplanned Excision of Soft Tissue Sarcomas of the Extremities in a Low-to-Middle-Income Country.

Background: Outcomes of unplanned excisions of extremity soft tissue sarcomas (STSE) range from poor to even superior compared with planned excisions in developed countries. However, little is known regarding outcomes in low-to-middle-income countries. This study aimed to determine whether definitively treated STSE patients with a previous unplanned excision have poorer oncologic outcomes compared with those with planned excisions.

A Comparison of Vascularized Free Fibular Flaps and Nonvascularized Fibular Grafts for Reconstruction of Long Bone Defects after Tumor Resection.

 The use of the fibula autograft has been a reliable method in the reconstruction of long bone defects after tumor resection. The objective of this study was to report the outcomes fibular grafting in terms of graft union, functional score, complications, and oncologic outcome.  A retrospective review of patients with fibular grafting after tumor resection was done from January 1, 1993 to December 31, 2013.

The Surgical Treatment and Outcome of Nonmetastatic Extremity Osteosarcoma with Pathological Fractures.

Background: Recent studies have suggested that the presence of a pathological fracture does not impact on oncologic outcomes and the feasibility of limb salvage surgery (LSS) in appropriately selected patients when combined with neoadjuvant chemotherapy. These have largely been single institutional studies with limited numbers. The Eastern Asian Musculoskeletal Oncology Group reviewed the data from three large volume Asian orthopedic oncology centers to determine whether the presence of a pathologic fracture affected outcomes in osteosarcoma patients.

Synovial haemangioma of the knee: an under recognised condition.

Background: Synovial haemangioma is a rare type of tumour for which only around 200 cases have been reported worldwide. It usually occurs in the female population during the second decade of life and most commonly affects the knee joint. Patients can complain of pain, recurrent knee swelling and limitation of motion.

Osteosarcoma in Asian Populations Over the Age of 40 Years: A Multicenter Study.

Background: Elderly patients with osteosarcoma (OSA) are no longer uncommon; however, many questions remain regarding this population. We investigated the clinicopathological characteristics and prognostic factors of OSA in an Asian population over the age of 40 years.

Methods: This was a multi-national, multi-institutional study by the Eastern Asian Musculoskeletal Oncology Group (EAMOG).

Is curettage and high-speed burring sufficient treatment for aneurysmal bone cysts?

Background: To decrease the recurrence rate after intralesional curettage for aneurysmal bone cysts, different adjuvant treatments have been recommended. Liquid nitrogen spray and argon beam coagulation have provided the lowest recurrence rates, but unlike the high-speed burr, these adjuvants are not always available in operating rooms.

Questions/purposes: We asked: (1) Is high-speed burring alone sufficient as an adjuvant to curettage with respect to recurrence rates? (2) What is the complication rate from this technique? (3) What are the risk factors for local recurrence?

Methods: A retrospective review of the database of the University Musculoskeletal Tumor Unit and the private files of the senior author (EHW) for a period of 19 years (1993-2011) was performed to identify all patients histologically diagnosed with primary aneurysmal bone cyst.

The prognostic factors of recurrent GCT: a cooperative study by the Eastern Asian Musculoskeletal Oncology Group.

Background: Giant-cell tumor (GCT) of bone is a common primary benign tumor with high local recurrence and potential distant metastasis or malignant transformation. We have investigated the clinical behavior of recurrent GCT of bone in the extremities.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 110 patients with recurrent GCTs of bone in the extremities treated by the Eastern Asian Musculoskeletal Oncology Group.

Adductor myocutaneous flap coverage for hip and pelvic disarticulations of sarcomas with buttock contamination.

Background: Hip disarticulation and hemipelvectomy are alternatives to limb-salvage procedures for patients with extensive tumors of the upper thigh and buttocks. In cases when neither the conventional posterior gluteus maximus flap nor the anterior quadriceps flap can be used because of the location of the tumor, a medial adductor myocutaneous flap may be an alternative.

Description Of Technique: The flap is outlined over the anteromedial thigh.

Case report: Primary squamous cell carcinoma of a tarsal bone.

We describe a rare case of primary squamous cell carcinoma of the cuneiform bone of the foot in a 57-year-old man. In the appendicular skeleton, epithelial carcinomas of bone are usually metastatic deposits, primary squamous cell carcinomas of bone being found more frequently in the skull. A review of the English literature revealed only two other reported cases of primary squamous cell carcinoma outside the skull--one in the ilium and one in the tibia.

Cancer and the Philippine Cancer Control Program.

Cancer is the third leading cause of morbidity and mortality in the Philippines. Leading cancer sites/types are lung, breast, cervix, liver, colon and rectum, prostate, stomach, oral cavity, ovary and leukemia. There is at present a low cancer prevention consciousness and most cancer patients seek consultation only at advanced stages.