What is Bone tumor :
Bone tumor is rare. They are more common bone metastases secondary to tumors in other organs, particularly of the breast and prostate.
Bone tumors are more common in children under 15 and seniors with a slightly higher frequency in males.
The classification is complex bone tumors. In general, tumors are divided into benign and malignant tumors.
Benign tumors are composed of cells of normal tissue, are slow growing and do not invade neighboring structures.
Malignant tumors the cells are different from normal tissue rapidly grow, invade surrounding structures and can reproduce distance giving metastasis.
Among the benign bone tumors include osteoma, chondroma, osteochondroma, lymphangioma and hemangioma.
The most common malignant tumors are multiple myeloma, osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma .
How to produce
The abnormal cell proliferation and increased bone metabolism has been linked most often in children aged bone tumor growth in femur and tibia. Previous radiation is also considered to cause bone tumors as well as pre-malignant benign tumors.
Bone tumors Symptoms
The symptoms are often very nonspecific. The pain may not be severe, even if the tumor is slow growing, may be missing. When pain is present, it is typically located and displayed at night.
In some cases there is an increase in volume by tumor growth or deformation by the presence of a pathological fracture (fracture without previous trauma or secondary to minimal trauma) that in some cases the first symptom.
When symptoms such as anorexia, weight loss, fatigue or fever, we must consider the existence of a malignant tumor.
In general, different types of tumors occur more frequently in certain age ranges and also in certain locations.
Bone tumors Diagnosis
The diagnosis of bone tumors is based on clinical, imaging tests and characteristics of the cells.
Plain radiography is the first test to apply. Shows the location, the boundaries, shape and density of the tumor. A benign tumor shows a well-defined normal bone structure. A malignant tumor invades and destroys bone which has occurred, lacking the normal contours, no clear boundaries and invade the surrounding tissue.It can be bone forming (bone formation), resulting radiographic features as “rising sun” in “onion skin” or “hairy edge” and osteolytic (bone destructive).
MRI is the most accurate test to determine the extent of bone tumor. Lets define precisely the edges of the tumor and its extent. It is suspected of choice when the adjacent soft tissue involvement.
Computed tomography is useful for preoperative assessment of tumors, providing information on tumor size, location and relationship with adjacent muscles.
Tumor biopsy is performed with fine needle aspiration (FNA) or open biopsy, according to the characteristics of the tumor.
In the case of bone metastases, the patient study is directed to the search of the primary tumor.
Bone tumors Treatment
Surgery is the treatment of choice in most tumors, whether benign or malignant. Some benign tumors that are not operated, then require regular picture controls to monitor progress.
In malignant tumors, treatment is individualized based on tumor characteristics and extent. Surgery is the treatment of choice accompanying chemotherapy or not before or after it.
Radiation therapy is used in case of marrow involvement by metastases, after the surgery or as palliative treatment of bone metastases nontax surgery in order to improve pain.