The role of extra-corporeal radiation therapy for osteo-sarcoma

Abstract

Extracorporeal radiation therapy is a new limb-salvaging procedure increasingly used, especially in situations where it may not be possible to carry out complete surgical resection. Osteosarcoma is a malignant tumour of bone that, typically, presents in young people, and often, it is managed by using different modes of treatment, which include surgery and chemotherapy. This therapy involves the removal of the involved segment of bone, its extracorporeal irradiation, followed by re-implantation to preserve limb function and reduce the risk of recurrence. Therefore, it is of interest to review the effectiveness of, clinical uses, and results of ECRT, focusing on its benefits in terms of bony conservation and decreased complications with either prosthetics or allografts. Promising local control and survival rates further cement its potential.