Role of metastatectomy without chemotherapy in the management of osteosarcoma in children.

In a series of 18 consecutive non metastatic osteosarcoma patients, metastases developed in 12 and successful metastatectomies could be performed in 6. No adjuvant chemotherapy was given. Four of these 6 patients survived. The importance of length of disease-free survival is described. Radiotherapy and chemotherapy as adjuvants to prevent or postpone the development of metastases are mentioned and an EORTC-SIOP trial on this subject is briefly discussed.