What is a bone tumor?

Bone tumor is an abnormal growth of cells that have grown in or around the bones and may or may not be threatening health. Although there are several types of bone tumors, few tumors actually develop on bone cancer.

Bone tumor detection can be demanding and often includes display. Some patients with bone tumor experience blunt and sore pain, but others occur without symptoms. The cause of these tumors is often unknown, although some genetic risk factors predestine people. In fact, some bone tumors are found only because the patient had to receive an X -ray for another reason.

When a bone tumor is suspected, the doctor can assess the medical history and perform a physical examination to evaluate things as sensitivity in the bone and the range of movement. Even X -rays sometimes bring mixed results because different types of tumors show unique properties.

Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and computer tomography (CT or Cat Scans) are better methods for identifying bone tumor. However, a biopsy or tissue sample from a suspicious tumor is usually required to determine the severity of the bone tumor.

Although benign bone tumors are unprecedented and usually disappear over time, abnormal bone growth must still be monitored or removed. Benign bone tumors can become cancer and can weaken the bone and cause a fracture. Some examples of benign bone tumors are osteoma, osteochondrome and fibrous dysplasia.

Bone tumors that are malignant, however, cause greater problems. Malignant bone marrow tumor is the most common type of bone tumor. It is generally referred to as multiple myeloma and prevails in older adults.

Osteosarcoma, the second most common bone cancer, is most common in teenagers, but also young adults. These tumors often come from a knee, side or shoulder.

kosThe tumor in the leg, the pelvis, the upper arm or the ribs is called Ewing's sarcoma. This tumor usually affects children and adolescents. Other bone tumors in the hip, pelvis or shoulder occurring in patients aged 40 to 70 are called chondrosarcomas.

All malignant bone tumors can easily spread cancer cells through the bloodstream or lymphatic system to other parts of the body. Surgery in combination with radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy is a known treatment course depending on the cancer stage.

In many cases, bone cancer is actually secondary, which means that the tumor has evolved elsewhere in the body and spreads into the bone. Breast, lung, prostate and kidney cancer commonly metastasizes bones.