Osteosarcoma, the most common malignant bone tumour in the bone, occurs in about two people out of a million every year. On the other hand, considering that there are 35 types of bone tumours, benign or malignant, and more than 50 soft tissue tumours in addition to osteosarcoma, it can be said that the incidence of skeletal system tumours is not very low. A biopsy is an essential guide for early diagnosis and early treatment of bone tumours that are pretty rare but can cause fatal consequences when diagnosed. Bone tumours, like all tumours, can be defined as benign or malignant. While almost all benign tumours do not spread to another tissue or organ (except a giant cell tumour, chondroblastoma), malignant tumours usually spread to other tissues and organs. But not every bone tumour can be called cancer. Cases that are perceived as cancer in society are malignant tumours. The characteristics of a malignant tumour are: There are no limits to the speed of its growth and development. Even if surgical procedures remove it from the body area where it is located, it may reappear in the same place or another part of the body. They spread to other organs through the circulation of blood and lymph. These events are called metastases. They cause excessive destruction of the tissues and organs in which they settle. None of the tumour cells looks like normal body cells.
Benign tumours can be easily distinguished since they do not have any characteristics of the others at all. They are similar to healthy cells and consist of differentiated cells by the type of tissue to which they belong and grow without interfering with the functions of the organ in which they settle. They have little tendency to happen again and spread throughout the body. An Aneurysmal bone cyst can recur again where it formed. Giant cell tumours and chondroblastoma, some benign tumours, can also spread to the surrounding tissue, albeit limited, and very rarely metastasise to the lungs.
There are no signs specific to the tumour; pain is often observed, and sometimes swelling. This pain is attributed to a blow, strain or cold in completely healthy children or teenagers. These characteristics apply to malignant tumours; symptoms are not detected in most benign tumours.
Bone Tumors
Blog > Bone Tumors
Osteosarcoma, the most common malignant bone tumour in the bone, occurs in about two people out of a million every year. On the other hand, considering that there are 35 types of bone tumours, benign or malignant, and more than 50 soft tissue tumours in addition to osteosarcoma, it can be said that the incidence of skeletal system tumours is not very low. A biopsy is an essential guide for early diagnosis and early treatment of bone tumours that are pretty rare but can cause fatal consequences when diagnosed. Bone tumours, like all tumours, can be defined as benign or malignant. While almost all benign tumours do not spread to another tissue or organ (except a giant cell tumour, chondroblastoma), malignant tumours usually spread to other tissues and organs. But not every bone tumour can be called cancer. Cases that are perceived as cancer in society are malignant tumours. The characteristics of a malignant tumour are: There are no limits to the speed of its growth and development. Even if surgical procedures remove it from the body area where it is located, it may reappear in the same place or another part of the body. They spread to other organs through the circulation of blood and lymph. These events are called metastases. They cause excessive destruction of the tissues and organs in which they settle. None of the tumour cells looks like normal body cells.
Benign tumours can be easily distinguished since they do not have any characteristics of the others at all. They are similar to healthy cells and consist of differentiated cells by the type of tissue to which they belong and grow without interfering with the functions of the organ in which they settle. They have little tendency to happen again and spread throughout the body. An Aneurysmal bone cyst can recur again where it formed. Giant cell tumours and chondroblastoma, some benign tumours, can also spread to the surrounding tissue, albeit limited, and very rarely metastasise to the lungs.
There are no signs specific to the tumour; pain is often observed, and sometimes swelling. This pain is attributed to a blow, strain or cold in completely healthy children or teenagers. These characteristics apply to malignant tumours; symptoms are not detected in most benign tumours.
In diagnosing bone tumours, after the data obtained by examination are combined with laboratory findings and imaging methods (direct X-ray, ultrasonography, computed tomography and magnetic resonance), the most crucial procedure for diagnosis is a biopsy. As a result of the examination of the sample taken in the biopsy by pathologists, the diagnosis is made, and the treatment process is started. These data can provide a definitive diagnosis in 100 per cent of cases.
A biopsy is vital for diagnosis. Amputation or non-amputation of the arm or leg in the treatment to be applied depends on the biopsy result. It gives the patient and his family an opinion on the course of the disease. The only possibility of recovery in malignant tumours is an appropriate and rapid treatment followed by an accurate and early diagnosis. A biopsy is our most important diagnostic tool for early diagnosis in these patients.
Prof. Dr.
Ahmet Murat Bülbül, MD
Orthopaedics and Traumatology Specialist
