Orthopedic oncology is a branch of medicine where oncology and orthopedics overlap. An orthopedic oncologist specializes in diagnosis and management of cancers and tumors of bone and soft tissues/ muscles.
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This is a common question that patients with recurrences of giant cell tumor have in their minds. Unfortunately, no one can guarantee a treatment of giant cell tumor where there are absolutely no chances of recurrence.
As bone tumors are rare, a low index of suspicion for such a possibility is crucial. Whenever a patient has pain and/or swelling in the limbs that does not subside with the usual remedies and is not explained by any other obvious diagnosis, an imaging of the local part such as an x ray and/ or MRI as considered appropriate is asked for.
Bone and soft tissue tumors are essentially of two kinds- Benign and malignant. Malignant bone and soft tissue tumors are also called sarcomas. Sarcomas are rare, and form <2 % of all cancers.
Osteosarcoma, also called osteogenic sarcoma, is the most common primary malignant bone tumor in children, adolescents, and young adults. Osteosarcoma only ranks behind lymphomas and brain tumors as the most prevalent pediatric solid tumor.
Pain in the bone is the most common symptom. Swelling in the same area is another symptom. These symptoms might wax and wane at first, but after a while they might not go away or might get worse with time.
Cancer that begins in the bone (known as primary bone cancer) is not the same as cancer that starts in another part of the body and spreads (or metastasizes) to the bone (called secondary bone cancer or metastatic cancer).
Osteosarcoma, though the commonest primary bone cancer, is fortunately rare. So rare, that most people haven’t even heard of it. The symptoms of osteosarcoma can be vague, and overlap with those of a range of much more common conditions. Picked up early, osteosarcoma is curable. Hence the need to know more about osteosarcoma.