Abstract
The aim was to review the data and survival of patients with osteosarcoma in New Zealand from 1994 to 1999 and compare this to data retrieved from a similar review of the data and survival of patients from 1981 to1987.
Data was obtained from the New Zealand cancer registry from 1994–1999 and the raw data was retrieved from the 1981–1987 study.
There were 98 cases in the 1981–1987 cohort and 85 cases in the 1994–1999 cohort. Overall 5 year survival from osteosarcoma improved from 31.6% to 43.5% between the cohorts. The 5 year survival in patients less than 40 years with non metastatic tumours improved from 54.2% to 69.7%. When patients were stratified by age and stage there was a statistically significant improvement in survival between the 2 cohorts
The survival in patients with osteosarcoma in New Zealand has improved over the study period and is similar to that seen in the overseas literature.
The abstracts were prepared by Editorial Secretary Jean-Claude Theis. Correspondence should be addressed to NZOA at Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Dunedin Hospital, Private Bag 1921, Dunedin, New Zealand.
