Description
This consists of the lower end of the femur, the knee joint, the upper two-thirds of the calf. The
femoral head is expanded and distorted by tumour tissue, which is partly haemorrhagic, and which
shows cavitation. There are no secondary deposits apparent in the adjacent bone.
History
This girl was admitted at the age of 10 in 1972 with a two-month history of right knee
pain; investigation and ultimate biopsy showed an osteogenic sarcoma. The lesion was treated by
irradiation and review three months later showed secondary deposits in the chest. Subsequently,
however, her condition suddenly improved, and the metastases spontaneously regressed. In 1976
she showed increasing pain in the limb, and an X-ray showed tumour in the lower end of the femur;
an amputation was therefore done.