Symptoms
While benign bone tumors typically stay in place and are unlikely to be fatal, they’re still abnormal cells and may require treatment. Benign tumors can grow and could compress your healthy bone tissue and cause future issues. Malignant tumors are cancerous. Malignant bone tumors can cause cancer to spread throughout the body.
Causes
What Is The Term For A Malignant Tumor Of Bone? Also known as a bone sarcoma, primary bone cancers originate from within the bone itself. There is a difference between Sarcomas which usually occur in bone, muscle, fibrous tissues, blood vessels, and the brain.
Complications
- anticonvulsants to prevent epileptic fits (seizures)
- steroids to reduce swelling around the tumour, which can relieve some of your symptoms and make surgery easier
- painkillers to treat headaches
- anti-emetics to prevent vomiting
How dangerous are benign bone tumors?
Some benign bone tumors can change and become cancer. A benign tumor may grow large enough to cause problems with movement or with organ function. A tumor can also weaken the bone and cause it to fracture easily. Your risk for a benign bone tumor is increased if you have a family history of bone tumors.
What is a malignant tumor of the bone called?
What is the best treatment for a benign tumor?
Can a benign bone tumor turn cancerous?
What is the most common benign bone tumor?
Osteochondromas are the most common, accounting for 30% to 35% of benign bone tumors. Giant cell tumors account for 20%, osteoblastomas for 14%, and osteoid osteomas for 12%. All others are less common.
How do you know if a bone tumor is benign?
Symptoms. A lump or swelling can be the first sign of a benign tumor. Another is ongoing or increasing aching or pain in the region of the tumor. Sometimes tumors are found only after a fracture occurs where the bone has been weakened by the growing tumor.
Can a benign bone tumor turn cancerous?
Certain benign tumors can spread or become cancerous (metastasize). Sometimes your doctor may recommend removing the tumor (excision) or using other treatment techniques to reduce the risk of fracture and disability. Some tumors may come back–even repeatedly–after appropriate treatment.
How serious is a benign tumor?
They do not spread to local structures or to distant parts of the body. Benign tumors tend to grow slowly and have distinct borders. Benign tumors are not usually problematic. However, they can become large and compress structures nearby, causing pain or other medical complications.
What percent of bone tumors are benign?
Giant cell tumour of bone GCTs are usually benign (80%). However, recurrence after excision may occur in 20–50%, with 10% becoming malignant on recurrence [10].
Can an MRI tell if a bone lesion is benign?
Despite the superiority of MRI in delineating soft-tissue tumours, its ability is limited because most of these tumours have a non-specific appearance on MR images. Thus, it is often impossible using MR to determine whether the lesion is benign or malignant [5-8].
Can a benign tumor destroy bone?
Bone tumors can affect any bone in the body and develop in any part of the bone — from the surface to the center of the bone, called the bone marrow. A growing bone tumor — even a benign tumor — destroys healthy tissue and weakens bone, making it more vulnerable to fracture.
Do benign tumors have to be removed?
While many benign tumors do not need treatment, some do, especially if they are causing symptoms. Usually if a benign tumor requires treatment, we remove it surgically.
Can a benign tumor go away on its own?
Most go away on their own. Those that interfere with vision, hearing, or eating may require treatment with corticosteroids or other medication. Lipomas grow from fat cells. They are the most common benign tumor in adults, often found in the neck, shoulders, back, or arms.
Do you need chemo for benign tumors?
When a benign tumor requires treatment, it isn't too different from the treatment of a malignant or cancerous tumor. It may be radiation therapy, radiosurgery for benign tumors located in the skull base, surgery or chemotherapy.
What causes benign tumors to grow?
The exact cause of a benign tumor is often unknown. It develops when cells in the body divide and grow at an excessive rate. Typically, the body is able to balance cell growth and division. When old or damaged cells die, they are automatically replaced with new, healthy cells.
Can stress cause benign tumors?
Stress induces signals that cause cells to develop into tumors, Yale researchers have discovered.
How do you know if a bone lesion is cancerous?
Diagnosing a bone lesion and determining whether it is cancerous involves blood tests, CT and MRI imaging, followed by a biopsy if needed. For lesions that do not appear cancerous or destructive, serial images over time can be obtained and compared for changes, and biopsy is often unnecessary.
Are bone tumors hard or soft?
It appears as a hard, painless, stationary lump at the end of a bone, with a cartilage cap that allows it to continue to grow. A surgeon can remove this tumor if it begins to cause pain or if the bone is in danger of fracturing.
Do benign tumors hurt?
Benign soft tissue tumors may or may not cause pain and vary widely in appearance. If the tumor grows or causes pain, it should be assessed by a doctor.
How do you know if a mass is cancerous?
In most cases, doctors need to do a biopsy to diagnose cancer. A biopsy is a procedure in which the doctor removes a sample of tissue. A pathologist looks at the tissue under a microscope and runs other tests to see if the tissue is cancer.
What is a benign bone tumor?
A benign bone tumor is an abnormal lesion in the bone which is identifiable on an X-ray or other type of radiological imaging and affects the archi...
Who gets benign bone tumors?
Benign bone tumors commonly develop while a person is still growing, so the majority are diagnosed in children and adolescents.
How are benign bone tumors diagnosed?
The initial discovery of a benign bone tumor is usually on an X-ray, which may have been obtained for a completely separate reason, but which revea...
How are benign bone tumors treated?
There is a wide spectrum of treatment for benign bone tumors which depends on the specific diagnosis. Some tumors are indolent or quiescent, meanin...
What is a benign bone tumor?
A benign bone tumor is an abnormal lesion in the bone which is identifiable on an X-ray or other type of radiological imaging and affects the architecture of the bone. This type of tumor (meaning abnormal growth of tissue), it is not cancerous because it does not have the capacity to grow into or cause damage in other parts of the body.
How are benign bone tumors diagnosed?
Some benign tumors require a CT scan or MRI to be obtained, both to aid in the diagnosis and to plan treatment. The final step in making a definitive diagnosis is with a biopsy. While the majority or benign bone tumors do not require a biopsy, some look similar enough to a malignant cancerous tumor to require this procedure. However, once a benign diagnosis is made, treatment can often proceed during the same operation.
What are the conditions that can look like benign tumors?
Other conditions of abnormal bone that can look and behave like benign tumors include fibrous dysplasia, bone cysts and ganglion cysts. Anteroposterior (front-to-back) X-ray view of a benign bone tumor in the left upper femur (thighbone) of a six-year old child.
Do you need a biopsy for bone cancer?
While the majority or benign bone tumors do not require a biopsy, some look similar enough to a malignant cancerous tumor to require this procedure. However, once a benign diagnosis is made, treatment can often proceed during the same operation.
Can a tumor recur in the same area?
Some tumors, despite being benign, can recur in the same area, so close follow up with your surgeon over time is important. Blog posts.
Do you need surgery for a tumor?
They can be followed over time but do not require surgery. Other tumors are more active and require surgical removal of the abnormal tissue to stop their growth and allow normal bone to fill the space previously occupied by the tumor.
Can bone tumors be inherited?
Benign bone tumors commonly develop while a person is still growing, so the majority are diagnosed in children and adolescents. Some benign tumors are inherited through families, like multiple osteochondromatosis, but the majority are spontaneous growths , and it is usually not known why one person develops a tumor while another does not.
What does it mean when a bone tumor is benign?
Benign means the tumor is not cancer and cannot spread. Some benign bone tumors can change and become cancer. A benign tumor may grow large enough to cause problems with movement or with organ function. A tumor can also weaken the bone and cause it to fracture easily. Your risk for a benign bone tumor is increased if you have a family history ...
What do I need to know about a benign bone tumor?
A benign bone tumor may start in the bone or in the cartilage at the end of the bone. Benign means the tumor is not cancer and cannot spread. Some benign bone tumors can change and become cancer. A benign tumor may grow large enough to cause problems with movement or with organ function. A tumor can also weaken the bone and cause it to fracture easily. Your risk for a benign bone tumor is increased if you have a family history of bone tumors.
How is a benign bone tumor diagnosed?
A bone tumor may be found during an x-ray for another problem, such as an injured ankle.
What is a biopsy used for?
A biopsy is a procedure used to take a sample of the tumor to be tested.
Why do you need surgery to remove a tumor?
Surgery may be used to remove the tumor so it does not become malignant or spread. Tumor removal can also help protect the bone from fracturing. You may need bone graft surgery to replace bone that is removed with the tumor.
Does smoking cause bone fractures?
Your healthcare provider may recommend that you get more calcium and vitamin D to help strengthen your bones. Do not smoke. Smoking increases your risk for cancer. Smoking can also increase your risk for bone fractures and delay healing.
Can a bone tumor make holes in your bone?
A benign bone tumor may create holes in your bone, or it may make extra bone grow. Your doctor will check for these signs and for how much of the bone is affected by the tumor. Some benign bone tumors can deform the bone. A CT or MRI may be used to find the kind of tumor you have. Do not enter the MRI room with anything metal.
What is the most common bone tumor?
According to the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS), the most common type of benign bone tumor is an osteochondroma. This type accounts for between 35 and 40 percent of all benign bone tumors. Osteochondromas develop in adolescents and teenagers.
How to treat bone tumors?
Cryosurgery is another treatment possibility. This treatment involves killing cancer cells by freezing them with liquid nitrogen. A hollow tube is inserted into the tumor, and liquid nitrogen or argon gas is pumped in. In some cases, cryosurgery can be used to treat bone tumors instead of regular surgery.
What is a biopsy of a tumor?
Your doctor may want to perform a biopsy. In this test, a sample of the tissue that makes up your tumor will be removed. The sample is examined in a laboratory under a microscope. The main types of biopsies are a needle biopsy and an incisional biopsy.
Why is bone tissue so active?
This could be because a bone is growing, such as in young people, or it could mean a tumor is producing abnormal bone tissue. This test is more reliable in people who’ve stopped growing.
How is bone cancer treated?
Bone cancer is usually treated with surgery. In surgery, your entire tumor is removed. Your surgeon carefully examines the margins of your tumor to make sure no cancer cells are left after surgery. If your bone cancer is in an arm or leg, your surgeon may use what’s known as limb salvage surgery.
What test can be used to diagnose bone tumors?
A lab will analyze these fluids to detect different proteins that may indicate the presence of a tumor or other medical problems. An alkaline phosphatase test is one common tool doctors use to diagnose bone tumors.
How to get a tumor out of bone?
If a radiologist does the needle biopsy, they’ll use the image from the X-ray, MRI, or CT scan to help find the tumor and know where to insert the needle.
Aneurysmal Bone Cyst (ABC)
An aneurysmal bone cyst is a blood-filled fibrous tumor-like cyst that expands the bone, giving it a "blow-out" appearance. These cysts are rare and most commonly occur in people from birth to 20 years of age. They mainly develop in the knee and vertebrae.
Chondroblastoma
Chondroblastoma is a rare type of benign (noncancerous) tumor that usually develops at the ends of long bones, such as the thighbone and upper arm bone. Although it can affect people of all ages, it most often appears in males younger than 25 years old.
Enchondroma
Enchondroma is one type of benign (noncancerous) cartilage tumor that appears on the inside of the bone. These tumors usually begin and grow in childhood, then stop growing but remain present throughout adulthood. They are often found in patients between 10 and 20 years of age.
Fibrous Dysplasia
Fibrous dysplasia is a chronic condition of the skeleton where a portion of a bone develops abnormally. The condition begins before birth. It is caused by a gene mutation that affects the cells that produce bone. Although the abnormal bone forms before birth, its presence is often not discovered until childhood, adolescence, or even adulthood.
Giant Cell Tumor of the Bone
Giant cell tumor of bone (GCT) is a rare, aggressive non-cancerous (benign) tumor. It generally occurs in adults between the ages of 20 and 40 years. Giant cell tumor of bone is very rarely seen in children or in adults older than 65 years of age. Giant cell tumors occur in approximately one person per million per year.
Hemangioma of the Bone
The hemangiomas that occur in bones typically occur in the skull or spine and are most common in people who are 50 to 70 years of age. Capillary and cavernous types are the most common hemangiomas found in bone. They can grow on the surface or deeper into the center canal of a bone.
Osteoblastoma
Considered a non-cancerous aggressive tumor, Osteoblastomas are larger in size and grow progressively. Osteoblastomas are rare tumors and constitute about 1% of excised primary bone tumors. These tumors have a higher chance of coming back after they are removed.
What is a benign tumor?from en.wikipedia.org
Benign tumor. A benign tumor is a mass of cells ( tumor) that lacks the ability to either invade neighboring tissue or metastasize (spread throughout the body). When removed, benign tumors usually do not grow back, whereas malignant tumors sometimes do. Unlike most benign tumors elsewhere in the body, benign brain tumors can be life-threatening. ...
What are benign neoplasms?from en.wikipedia.org
Benign neoplasms are typically but not always composed of cells which bear a strong resemblance to a normal cell type in their organ of origin. These tumors are named for the cell or tissue type from which they originate, followed by the suffix "-oma" (but not -carcinoma, -sarcoma, or -blastoma, which are generally cancers). For example, a lipoma is a common benign tumor of fat cells ( lipocytes ), and a chondroma is a benign tumor of cartilage-forming cells ( chondrocytes ). Adenomas are benign tumors of gland-forming cells, and are usually specified further by their cell or organ of origin, as in hepatic adenoma (a benign tumor of hepatocytes, or liver cells). Teratomas contain many cell types such as skin, nerve, brain and thyroid, among others, because they are derived from germ cells. Hamartomas are a group of benign tumors that have relatively normal cellular differentiation but the architecture of the tissue is disorganised. There are a few cancers with 'benign-sounding' names which have been retained for historical reasons, including melanoma (a cancer of pigmented skin cells, or melanocytes) and seminoma (a cancer of male reproductive cells). Skin tags, vocal chord polyps and hyperplastic polyps of the colon are often referred to as benign but they are actually overgrowths of normal tissue rather than neoplasms.
What is a tumor of the skeletal muscle called?from webmd.com
Myomas are tumors that grow from muscle. Leiomyomas grow from smooth muscle, which is found in internal organs such as the stomach and uterus. In the wall of the uterus, leiomyomas are often called fibroids. A rare benign tumor of skeletal muscle is rhabdomyoma. These tumors may be simply watched. To address symptoms, they may be shrunk with medication or removed with surgery.
What is a benign tumor composed of fat tissue?from facty.com
Lipoma. Soft to the touch and easy to move, lipomas are benign tumors composed of fat tissue. There are a large number of lipoma subtypes. Adenolipomas develop in the eccrine sweat glands. Hibernomas are tumors that develop from the brown fat found most commonly in newborns and hibernating mammals.
What are the effects of a benign colon tumor?from en.wikipedia.org
This growth can cause compression of local tissues or organs, leading to many effects, such as blockage of ducts, reduced blood flow ( ischaemia ), tissue death ( necrosis) and nerve pain or damage. Some tumors also produce hormones that can lead to life-threatening situations. Insulinomas can produce large amounts of insulin, causing hypoglycemia. Pituitary adenomas can cause elevated levels of hormones such as growth hormone and insulin-like growth factor-1, which cause acromegaly; prolactin; ACTH and cortisol, which cause Cushings disease; TSH, which causes hyperthyroidism; and FSH and LH. Bowel intussusception can occur with various benign colonic tumors. Cosmetic effects can be caused by tumors, especially those of the skin, possibly causing psychological or social discomfort for the person with the tumor. Vascular tissue tumors can bleed, in some cases leading to anemia.
Why do tumors grow?from healthline.com
It develops when cells in the body divide and grow at an excessive rate. Typically, the body is able to balance cell growth and division. When old or damaged cells die , they are automatically replaced with new, healthy cells. In the case of tumors, dead cells remain and form a growth known as a tumor.
What to do if you don't have a tumor removed?from healthline.com
If you don’t have your tumor removed, your doctor may have you come in for routine examinations or imaging scans to ensure that the tumor isn’t growing larger.
What is a benign bone tumor?
Benign and Malignant Bone Tumors. A tumor is a lump or mass of tissue that forms when cells divide uncontrollably. For most bone tumors, the cause is unknown. A growing tumor may replace healthy tissue with abnormal tissue. It may weaken the bone, causing it to break ( fracture ). Aggressive tumors can lead to disability or death, ...
What is the most common bone cancer?
Multiple Myeloma, the most common primary bone cancer, is a malignant tumor of bone marrow. It affects approximately 20 people per million people each year. Most cases are seen in patients aged 50 to 70 years old. Any bone can be involved. Osteosarcoma is the second most common bone cancer.
How do you know if you have a bone tumor?
Most patients with a bone tumor will experience pain in the area of the tumor. The pain is generally described as dull and achy. It may or may not get worse with activity. The pain often awakens the patient at night. Although tumors are not caused by trauma, occasionally injury can cause a tumor to start hurting. Injury can cause a bone weakened by tumor to break, which often leads to severe pain. Some tumors can also cause fevers and night sweats. Many patients will not experience any symptoms, but will instead note a painless mass. Medical history and physical exam: Tell the doctor your complete medical history. This includes any medications you take, details about any previous tumors or cancers that you or your family members may have had, and symptoms you are experiencing. Your doctor will physically examine you. The focus is on the tumor mass, tenderness in bone and any impact on joints and/or range of motion. In some cases, the doctor may want to examine other parts of your body to rule out cancers that can spread to bone.
How does bone cancer spread?
Malignant tumors can spread cancer cells throughout the body ( metastasize ). This happens via the blood or lymphatic system. Cancer that begins in bone ( primary bone cancer) is different from cancer that begins somewhere else in the body and spreads to bone ( secondary bone cancer ). The four most common types of primary bone cancer are:
How often do you need to see a doctor for bone tumors?
These can confirm that the tumor is actually gone. You may need to have regular doctor visits and tests every few months. When the tumor disappears, it is important to monitor your body for its possible return (relapse).
What tests are needed to diagnose a tumor?
You may also require blood and or urine tests. If these tests are not adequate to diagnose your tumor, you may require a biopsy. A biopsy involves removing a sample of tissue from the tumor. The tissue sample is examined under a microscope. There are two basic methods of doing a biopsy.
Where is the bone tumor in Figure 2A?
Figure 2a: Shows a bone tumor in the middle of the femur exhibiting a combination of characteristics.
What is a bone tumor?
A bone lesion is considered a bone tumor if the abnormal area has cells that divide and multiply at higher-than-normal rates to create a mass in the bone. The term "tumor" does not indicate whether an abnormal growth is malignant (cancerous) or benign, as both benign and malignant lesions can form tumors in the bone. Types of cancerous bone tumors include:
What is the name of the cancerous bone tumor?
Types of cancerous bone tumors include: osteosarcoma (also known as primary bone cancer) in which a metastatic lesion originates in the bone. metastatic bone disease (also known as secondary bone cancer) in which cancers originating in other parts of the body invade bone tissues.
What is the difference between a benign and a malignant bone lesion?
Benign lesions form in a bone and can grow locally but do not spread to other organs to cause harm.
What causes bone cancer?
Bone cancer is caused by mutations in a person’s DNA. These mutations can be genetic, spontaneous or induced by environmental factors. Bone cancer affects all age groups, but certain subtypes, like osteosarcoma and Ewing sarcoma are more common in children and adolescents, while chondrosarcoma is more common in adults.
How are benign lesions treated?
Many benign lesions are stable in the bone and require no treatment. Some benign lesions or tumors can be locally aggressive and require surgical treatment to eradicate the process and prevent further damage.
Why do bone lesions get malignant?
Who gets benign bone lesions and who gets malignant lesions? Benign bone lesions can be due to genetic causes, growth disturbances, or changes in the behavior of a small group of cells. Growth disturbances are abnormal changes in a child’s growth pattern, and can be caused by skeletal dysplasias, metabolic disorders and various organ conditions.
How to identify bone lesions?
Lesions in the bone are usually identified on radiographic images – chiefly X-rays – but also on CT and MRI scans. For those that are possibly cancerous, a biopsy is conducted to identify it. Imaging is often helpful in determining a diagnosis, and it can sometimes make a particular diagnosis nearly certain.
What is a bone tumor?
Bone Tumor. Bone tumors develop when cells within a bone divide uncontrollably, forming a lump or mass of abnormal tissue. Most bone tumors are benign (not cancerous). Benign tumors are usually not life-threatening and, in most cases, will not spread to other parts of the body. Depending upon the type of tumor, ...
What are the symptoms of a bone tumor?
It may worsen at night and increase with activity. Other symptoms of a bone tumor can include fever and night sweats.
What is the most common bone cancer?
Multiple myeloma is the most common primary bone cancer. It is a malignant tumor of bone marrow—the soft tissue in the center of many bones that produces blood cells. Any bone can be affected by this cancer. Multiple myeloma affects approximately seven people per 100,000 each year.
How do you remove a malignant tumor?
Generally, malignant tumors are removed by surgery. Often, radiation therapy and chemotherapy are used in combination with surgery.
Where does chondrosarcoma occur?
It is most often seen in patients between the ages of 40 and 70. Most cases occur around the hip, pelvis, or shoulder area. In most cases, surgery is the only treatment used for chondrosarcoma.
What imaging is needed to diagnose a tumor?
Other imaging studies. If necessary, your doctor will order a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), computerized tomography (CT), or bone scan to help further evaluate your tumor.
Can bone tumors be caused by trauma?
Although bone tumors are not caused by trauma, an injury can sometimes cause a tumor to start hurting. Injury can also cause a bone that is weakened by a tumor to fracture, or break. This may be severely painful.
