The Diagnosis and Treatment of Bone Sarcoma

This was a case of fibrosarcoma of the metatarsal bone in a young woman aged sixteen years, who had been operated upon by Dr. William T. Bull (a Chopart's amputation in 1891). She already had'extensive recurrence in the stump, with a large metastatic tumour, the size of a child's head, in the popliteal region, when Dr. Bull referred her to me for toxin treatment. Under toxins, the tumours showed such marked diminution in size that I felt hopeful of recovery. However, after a few months, the disease showed evidence of renewed activity, and I performed a hip-joint amputation. An extensive, infiltrating, inoperable recurrence developed in the gluteal region. The toxins were resumed, the injections being made directly into the tumour daily. After a few months, all evidence of the disease entirely disappeared, and the patient is well at the present time, more than forty-two years later. The microscopical diagnosis in this case was: periosteal fibrosarcoma of the metatarsal bone. Note.?A letter, dated '22nd March, 1936, states she is still in good health?forty-three years after the beginning of toxin treatment.