Malignant bone tumors

Malignant bone tumors occur when normal bone cells become abnormal and begin to grow uncontrollably. There are several types of bone cancer, depending on the type of cells affected. The most common is osteosarcoma. Others include chondrosarcoma and Ewing’s sarcoma.

Symptoms

Bone cancer usually causes pain and swelling in the affected area. The pain may come and go, but it usually gets worse over time, especially over several weeks or months. Sometimes the pain gets worse at night or with exercise. Some people may also develop or feel a lump on the bone or in the surrounding tissue.

What tests need to be performed to establish a diagnosis?

  • Blood tests
  • MRI and CT to obtain images of the affected bone
  • Bone scintigraphy, PET-CT or other methods to determine the extent of the tumor lesion
  • Histological examination of tumor tissue. This involves a biopsy (taking a tissue sample from a suspicious area), examining the material under a microscope, and performing immunohistochemical and cytogenetic examinations

The Center for Children’s Oncology, Hematology and Immunology performs all stages of diagnosis and treatment of bone tumors.

Treatment

Depending on the bone tumor, treatment may include one or more of the following:

  • Surgery is usually the main method of treatment. The type of surgery depends on the location and size of the tumor. Most often, surgeons perform organ-preserving surgery, removing the tumor without amputating the limb. After surgery, bone reconstruction with a metal endoprosthesis or other material may be required. Our Center has accumulated extensive experience in endoprosthetic replacement of large joints with endoprostheses since the early 2000s.

In surgical treatment we use biological reconstruction methods.

In biological reconstruction, the patient’s own fibula is used to replace bone defects.

Depending on the clinical situation, resections are performed – from the minimum possible to total endoprosthetics of the entire limb segment. One of the main features of endoprosthetics in children is the need to lengthen the endoprostheses as the patient grows. Modern technologies allow this to be done in two ways:

  1. Invasive lengthening– requires repeat surgery.
  2. Non-invasive lengthening– the patient independently lengthens the endoprosthesis through the skin using a special device, which significantly improves the quality of life and reduces the number of operations.

Sometimes, when the tumor has spread extensively, organ-preserving surgery is impossible and amputation may be required – removal of the affected limb. After amputation, some patients use an exoprosthesis – an artificial arm or leg.

  • Chemotherapy : Most patients with bone cancer receive chemotherapy before and after surgery.
  • Radiation therapy is used to kill cancer cells. It may be used if surgery is not possible or if the entire tumor cannot be removed surgically.

What happens after treatment?

After your treatment is complete, you will have regular check-ups to make sure the cancer hasn’t returned. This may include exams and imaging tests.

What if bone cancer comes back or spreads?

If the cancer comes back or spreads, you may be offered more surgery, radiation therapy, or chemotherapy.