Epiphyseal plate involvement in osteosarcoma.

Fourteen boys (56%) and 11 girls (44%) 4 to 17 years of age (mean, 12.2 years) who had osteosarcoma and open epiphyseal plates were studied. A possible correlation between transepiphyseal spread of osteosarcoma and radiologic and histopathologic findings was investigated. Epiphyseal plate invasion was detected radiologically in only 11 patients (44%), whereas histopathologic examination showed transepiphyseal extension in 21 patients (84%). The authors conclude that the epiphyseal plate is not a barrier against tumor growth and strongly recommend that limb salvage surgery preserving the epiphysis be planned carefully.