Prognostic factors and imaging patterns of recurrent pulmonary nodules after thoracotomy in children with osteosarcoma

Abstract

CT imaging cannot distinguish reliably between benign and metastatic recurrent pulmonary disease after thoracotomy in patients with osteosarcoma. Recurrent pulmonary disease in this set of patients is likely to be metastatic, and aggressive surgical intervention is probably warranted. In this study, patients who had progressive pleural disease after thoracotomy consistently experienced pulmonary metastatic recurrence and had a poor prognosis.