Purpose: To evaluate the frequency of tumor thrombus in the large veins draining primary pelvic osteosarcoma on early cross-sectional imaging studies and its effect on patient survival.
Materials and methods: Our retrospective study included all patients with primary pelvic osteosarcoma treated at our facility between January 2000 and May 2014, who were ≤ 45 years of age, and had adequate imaging studies and clinical follow up. Four radiologists evaluated for tumor in the large draining veins on initial CT, MRI and PET/CTs. A consensus evaluation by the four radiologists together with findings on operative reports, pathology reports or follow-up imaging was used as the reference standard.
Results: Thirty-nine patients with primary pelvic osteosarcoma met final inclusion criteria. Tumor thrombus was identified in the large draining veins in 10 of the 22 (45%) patients who underwent tumor resection and 10 of the 17 (59%) who did not. In the 22 patients who underwent tumor resection, tumor thrombus was significantly associated with worse overall survival (p = 0.03).
Conclusions: Tumor thrombus in the large draining veins is identified in a significant proportion of initial imaging studies in patients with pelvic osteosarcoma, and is associated with worse overall survival in patients who undergo tumor resection.
Keywords: Large draining veins; Pelvic osteosarcoma; Tumor thrombus.
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