The appropriate surgical procedure for the treatment of an osteosarcoma is based on:

A. Staging information.

C. The response of the lesion to neoadjuvant chemotherapy.

DISCUSSION: The surgical treatment of an osteosarcoma is either amputation or wide excision with limb salvage. The decision to do a limb-salvage operation is based on the staging information and on the response of the lesion to chemotherapy. If staging studies indicate involvement of vital structures or if the response to neoadjuvant chemotherapy is inadequate, amputation may be selected rather than limb salvage. The age of the patient and the radiographic appearance of the lesion are not factors in this decision.