Unusual Location of Bone Tumor Easily Misdiagnosed: Distal Radius Osteosarcoma Treated as Osteomyelitis

Abstract

Despite being the most common primary malignant bone tumor in children and adolescents, the presence of osteosarcoma at the wrist is infrequent; only less than 1% of osteosarcomas arise in the distal radius. The clinical presentation may mimic common musculoskeletal problems or benign lesions such as osteomyelitis, and a high index of suspicion is necessary so that the treating surgeon does not miss such lesions. We reported a case treated initially as osteomyelitis before being diagnosed as distal radius osteosarcoma. We conclude that an unusual location of osteosarcoma may be easily misdiagnosed, and therefore, osteosarcoma should be considered one of the main differential diagnosis in such cases until proven otherwise.

Keywords: distal radius osteosarcoma; osteomyelitis; osteosarcoma; rare osteosarcoma; wrist osteosarcoma.