When the cells in the body divide abnormally and uncontrollably, they can turn into a mass or lump.
This mass or lump is called a tumor.
Tumors that form in the bones are called bone tumors.
Tumors that are not cancerous are called benign.
However, even if a benign bone tumor is often considered harmless and is not likely to spread to other parts of the body, it may still need to be treated.
While harmless, there is a tendency for benign bone tumors to grow.
The growth may result to compression of healthy bone tissues.
However, it is unfortunate to note that not all bone tumors are benign.
Some are classified as cancerous or malignant.
Left untreated, the cancer can end up spreading to other parts of the body.
Causes
While no direct causes of bone tumors have been identified, some of the likely culprits of the condition include radiation treatments, genetics, and bone injuries.
Symptoms
Some of the telltale indicators that signal the presence of bone tumors include but are not limited to the following:
- Dull ache felt in the bone affected
- Swelling at the tumor site
- Fevers
- Night sweats
- Occasional pain that will eventually become severe and constant
Benign bone tumors
Some of the most common benign tumors include:
Giant cell tumors
The kind of tumor often affects adults and can grow aggressively.
Giant cell tumors also often affect the bone’s rounded end.
This type of bone tumor is considered rare.
Osteochondromas
As far as benign bone tumor goes, this type is considered one of the most common.
In fact, this kind accounts for at least 40 percent of benign bone tumors.
The condition is also common among adolescents and teenagers.
This type of benign bone tumor also often manifests in the upper end of the upper bone (humerus), the lower leg’s upper end (tibia), and the thigh bone’s lower end (femur).
Echondroma
This condition occurs when a cartilage cyst grows in the bone marrow.
Echondroma often affects the long bones of the arm and the thigh as well as the hands and the feet.
Aneurysmal bone cyst
Aneurysmal bone cysts are characterized by blood vessel abnormality.
However, this condition often begins in the bone marrow and the cyst can grow rapidly.
Aneurysmal bone cysts can also be destructive as it can affect the growth plates.
Fibrous dysplasia
This condition is attributed to a gene mutation that will make the bones fibrous, making them more prone to fracture as a result.
Nanossifying fibroma unicameral
Considered as the only true cyst of the bone, this condition often occurs in the leg.
It’s also very common among adolescents and children.
Malignant bone tumors
Some of the most common types of malignant bone tumors include:
Chondrosarcoma
This condition is common among older and middle-aged adults.
This type of bone cancer also often occurs in the shoulders, hips, and the pelvis.
Osteosarcoma
Common among adolescents and children, osteosarcomas often manifest around the hips, shoulder, and the knee.
The condition is otherwise known as osteogenic sarcoma.
Secondary bone cancer
Essentially, this means the cancer started somewhere in the body but eventually spread to the bone.
This condition is common among older adults.
Cancers that originate in the prostate, lung, kidney, breast, and the thyroid gland often spreads to the bones.
Ewing sarcoma family of tumors (ESFTs)
This condition is common among adolescents.
However, in some cases, the tumor affects children as young as 5 years old.
ESFTs often develop in the skull, ribs, backbone, upper arms, and pelvis.
Apart from the bones, ESFTs can also manifest in soft tissues like the muscles, fat, and the blood vessels.
This condition has been observed to spread rapidly and are more common in females.
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