When cells divide abnormally and uncontrollably, they can form a mass or lump of tissue. This lump is called a tumor. Bone tumors form in your bones. As the tumor grows, abnormal tissue can displace healthy tissue. Tumors can either be benign or malignant.
Benign tumors aren’t cancerous. 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.
Benign tumors are more common than malignant ones. 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.
These tumors form near the actively growing ends of long bones, such as arm or leg bones. Specifically, these tumors tend to affect the lower end of the thighbone (femur), the upper end of the lower leg bone (tibia), and the upper end of the upper arm bone (humerus).
These tumors are made of bone and cartilage. Osteochondromas have been considered to be an abnormality of growth. A child may develop a single osteochondroma or many of them.
Nonossifying fibroma unicameral
Nonossifying fibroma unicameral is a simple solitary bone cyst. It’s the only true cyst of bone. It’s usually found in the leg and occurs most often in children and adolescents.
Giant cell tumors
Giant cell tumors grow aggressively. They occur in adults. They’re found in the rounded end of the bone and not in the growth plate. These are very rare tumors.
An enchondroma is a cartilage cyst that grows inside the bone marrow. When they occur, they begin in children and persist as adults. They tend to be part of syndromes called Ollier’s and Mafucci’s syndrome. Enchondromas occur in the hands and feet as well as the long bones of the arm and thigh.
Fibrous dysplasia is a gene mutation that makes bones fibrous and vulnerable to fracture.
Aneurysmal bone cyst
An aneurysmal bone cyst is an abnormality of blood vessels that begins in the bone marrow. It can grow rapidly and can be particularly destructive because it affects growth plates.
There are also several types of cancer that produce malignant bone tumors. Primary bone cancer means that the cancer originated in the bones. According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), primary bone cancer accounts for less than 1 percent of all types of cancer.
The three most common forms of primary bone cancers are osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma family of tumors, and chondrosarcoma.
Osteosarcoma, which occurs mostly in children and adolescents, is the second most common type of bone cancer. This usually develops around the hip, shoulder, or knee. This tumor grows rapidly and tends to spread to other parts of the body.
The most common sites for this tumor to spread are areas where the bones are most actively growing (growth plates), the lower end of the thighbone, and the upper end of the lower leg bone. Osteosarcoma is also sometimes known as osteogenic sarcoma. Here’s how it’s treated and the outlook for people diagnosed with osteosarcoma.
Ewing sarcoma family of tumors (ESFTs)
Ewing sarcoma family of tumors (ESFTs) strikes adolescents and young adults, but these tumors can sometimes affect children as young as 5 years old. This type of bone cancer usually shows up in the legs (long bones), pelvis, backbone, ribs, upper arms, and the skull.
It begins in the cavities of the bones where the bone marrow is produced (the medullary cavities). In addition to thriving in bone, ESFTs can also grow in soft tissue, such as fat, muscle, and blood vessels. According to the NCI, African-American children very rarely develop ESFTs. Males are more likely to develop ESFTs than females. ESFTs grow and spread rapidly.
Middle-aged people and older adults are more likely than other age groups to develop chondrosarcoma. This type of bone cancer usually develops in the hips, shoulders, and pelvis.
Secondary bone cancer
The term “secondary bone cancer” means that the cancer started somewhere else in the body and then spread to the bone. It usually affects older adults. The types of cancer most likely to spread to your bones are:
The most common type of secondary bone cancer is called multiple myeloma. This bone cancer shows up as tumors in the bone marrow. Multiple myeloma most commonly affects older adults.
The causes of bone tumors aren’t known. A few possible causes are genetics, radiation treatment, and injuries to the bones. Osteosarcoma has been linked to radiation treatment (particularly high doses of radiation) and other anticancer drugs, especially in children. However, a direct cause hasn’t been identified.
The tumors often occur when parts of the body are growing rapidly. People who’ve had bone fractures repaired with metal implants are also more likely to develop osteosarcoma later.
A dull ache in the affected bone is the most common symptom of bone cancer. The pain starts off as occasional and then becomes severe and constant. The pain may be severe enough to wake you up in the night.
Sometimes, when people have an undiscovered bone tumor, what seems like an insignificant injury breaks the already weakened bone, leading to severe pain. This is known as a pathologic fracture. Sometimes there may be swelling at the site of the tumor.
People with benign tumors might not have any symptoms. The tumor might not be detected until an imaging scan reveals it while receiving other medical testing.
A benign bone tumor, such as an osteochondroma, may not require treatment unless it starts to interfere with your day-to-day function and movement.
Fractures, infections, and other conditions might resemble tumors. To be sure you have a bone tumor, your doctor might order a variety of tests.
First, your doctor will do a physical exam with a focus on the area of your suspected tumor. They’ll check for tenderness in your bone and test your range of motion. Your doctor will also ask you questions about your family medical history.
Blood and urine tests
Your doctor may order tests, including blood or urine samples. 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. When your bone tissue is especially active in forming cells, large quantities of this enzyme show up in your blood. 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.
Your doctor will probably order X-rays to determine the size and exact location of the tumor. Depending on the X-ray results, these other imaging tests may be necessary:
- A CT scan is a series of detailed X-rays of the inside of your body that are taken from several angles.
- An MRI scan uses magnets and radio waves to provide detailed pictures of the area in question.
- In a positron emission tomography (PET) scan, your doctor will inject a small amount of radioactive sugar into your vein. Since cancer cells use more glucose than regular cells, this activity helps your doctor locate the site of the tumor.
- An arteriogram is an X-ray of your arteries and veins.
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.
A needle biopsy may be done in your doctor’s office or by a radiologist along with one of the previously mentioned imaging tests. Either way, you’ll have local anesthetic to block the pain.
Your doctor will insert a needle into your bone, using it to remove a small bit of tumor tissue. 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.
An incisional biopsy, also called an open biopsy, is done in an operating room under general anesthesia so you’ll sleep through the procedure. Your doctor will make an incision and remove your tissue through the incision.
Completing a bone biopsy is important to make a definite diagnosis of the condition.
If your tumor is benign, it may or may not require action. Sometimes doctors just keep an eye on benign bone tumors to see if they change over time. This requires coming back periodically for follow-up X-rays.
Bone tumors can grow, stay the same, or eventually disappear. Children have a higher likelihood of having their bone tumors disappear as they mature.
However, your doctor may want to surgically remove the benign tumor. Benign tumors can sometimes spread or transform into malignant tumors. Bone tumors can also lead to fractures.
If your tumor is malignant, you’ll work closely with a team of doctors to treat it. Although malignant tumors are a cause of concern, the outlook for people with this condition is improving as treatments are developed and refined.
Your treatment will depend on what type of bone cancer you have and whether it’s spread. If your cancer cells are confined to the tumor and its immediate area, this is called the localized stage. In the metastatic stage, cancerous cells have already spread to other parts of the body. This makes curing the cancer more difficult.
Surgery, radiation, and chemotherapy are the main strategies for treating cancer.
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. This means that while the cancerous cells are removed, your tendons, muscles, blood vessels, and nerves are spared. Your surgeon will replace the cancerous bone with a metal implant.
Advances in chemotherapy have greatly improved recovery and survival. New drugs are being introduced on an ongoing basis.
Surgical techniques have improved greatly, too. Doctors are much more likely able to spare your limbs. However, you might need reconstructive surgery to retain as much limb function as possible.
Radiation is often used in conjunction with surgery. High-dose X-rays are used to shrink tumors before surgery and kill cancer cells. Radiation can also reduce pain and decrease the chance of bone fractures.
If your doctor thinks your cancer cells are likely to spread or if they already have, they may recommend chemotherapy. This therapy uses anticancer drugs to kill the rapidly growing cancer cells.
The side effects of chemotherapy include:
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.
Your doctor will want you to stay in close contact with them while you recover. Follow-up X-rays and blood tests will be necessary to make sure the whole tumor is gone and that it doesn’t return. You may need to have follow-up tests every few months.
How quickly you recover will depend on what type of bone tumor you had, how big it was, and where it was located.
Many people find cancer support groups helpful. If your bone tumor is malignant, ask your doctor for resources or inquire about groups like the American Cancer Society (ACS).
If your tumor is benign, your long-term outcome will probably be good. However, benign bone tumors can grow, recur, or turn into cancer, so you’ll still benefit from regular checkups.
Your outlook varies according to the type of cancer, size, location, and your general health. Your outlook is also good if the bone is localized.
Both malignant and benign bone tumors can recur. People who have had bone cancer, especially at an early age, are at higher risk of developing other types of cancer. If you have any symptoms or health concerns, be sure to discuss them with your doctor promptly.
The outlook is poorer if the bone cancer has spread. But there are treatments, and technology continues to advance. Many people with bone cancer join clinical trials on new drugs and therapies. These benefit people currently living with cancer and people who’ll receive a diagnosis and treatment in the future. If you’re interested in participating in clinical trials, talk to your doctor or call the NCI at 1-800-4-CANCER (1-800-422-6237).