Bone Tumor
A tumor is a lump or mass of tissue that forms when cells divide uncontrollably. A growing tumor may replace healthy tissue with abnormal tissue. It may weaken the bone, causing it to break (fracture).
Most bone tumors are noncancerous (benign). Some are cancerous (malignant).Benign tumors are usually not life-threatening. 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:
Multiple Myeloma
Multiple myeloma is the most common primary bone cancer. It is a malignant tumor of bone marrow. Multiple myeloma affects approximately five to seven people per 100,000 each year. According to the Multiple Myeloma Research Foundation, more than 56,000 Americans are living with the disease each year. Most cases are seen in patients between the ages of 50 and 70 years old. Any bone can be involved.
Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma is the second most common bone cancer. It occurs in two or three new people per million people each year. Most cases occur in teenagers. Most tumors occur around the knee. Other common locations include the hip and shoulder.
Ewing's Sarcoma
Ewings sarcoma most commonly occurs between 5 and 20 years of age. The most common locations are the upper and lower leg, pelvis, upper arm, and ribs.
Chondrosarcoma
Chondrosarcoma occurs most commonly in patients between 40 and 70 years of age. Most cases occur around the hip and pelvis or the shoulder.
There are many types of benign bone tumors. The more common types include:- Non-ossifying fibromaunicameral (simple) bone cyst
- Osteochondroma
- Giant cell tumor
- Enchondroma
- Fibrous dysplasia