What is the potential complication if osteosarcoma is not treated in a 12-year-old with the diagnosis?

• A. Lung metastasis
• B. Amputation
• C. Sepsis
• D. Chemotherapy resistance

Answer: (A)

Osteosarcoma, which is the most common bone cancer in children and adolescents, has a notable tendency to metastasize, particularly to the lungs. If left untreated, the cancer can grow aggressively and spread through the bloodstream, ultimately leading to lung metastasis. This is a critical concern, as pulmonary metastases significantly worsen the prognosis of osteosarcoma and can lead to serious respiratory complications and decreased survival rates.

While amputation can be a treatment option for localized osteosarcoma, it is not a complication arising from non-treatment but rather a therapeutic intervention. Sepsis would be less directly related to the osteosarcoma diagnosis itself, as sepsis generally arises from infections rather than cancer progression. Chemotherapy resistance might develop over time but is more relevant to the treatment course rather than an immediate complication from untreated osteosarcoma. Thus, the primary concern with untreated osteosarcoma in this context is the risk of metastasis, particularly to the lungs.