Bone tumor
A bone tumor is an abnormal growth of cells within a bone. A bone tumor may be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign).
Tumor
A tumor is an abnormal growth of body tissue. Tumors can be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign).
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleBenign
Benign refers to a condition, tumor, or growth that is not cancerous. This means that it does not spread to other parts of the body. It does not in...
Causes
The cause of bone tumors is unknown. They often occur in areas of the bone that grow rapidly. Possible causes include:
- Genetic defects passed down through families
- Radiation
- Injury
In most cases, no specific cause is found.
Osteochondromas are the most common noncancerous (benign) bone tumors. They occur most often in young people between the ages of 10 and 20.
Cancers that start in the bones are called primary bone tumors. Bone cancers that start in another part of the body (such as the breast, lungs, or colon) are called secondary or metastatic bone tumors. They behave very differently from primary bone tumors.
Metastatic
Metastasis is the movement or spreading of cancer cells from one organ or tissue to another. Cancer cells usually spread through the blood or the ly...
Cancerous primary bone tumors include:
- Chondrosarcoma
-
Ewing sarcoma
Ewing sarcoma
Ewing sarcoma is a malignant bone tumor that forms in the bone or soft tissue around it. It affects mostly teens and young adults.
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Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma
Osteosarcoma is a very rare type of cancerous bone tumor that usually develops in teenagers and young adults. It often occurs when a teen is growing...
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Cancers that most often spread to the bone are cancers of the:
- Breast
- Kidney
- Lung
- Prostate
- Thyroid
These forms of cancer usually affect older people.
Bone cancer is more common in people who have a family history of cancers.
Symptoms
Symptoms of a bone tumor may include any of the following:
- Bone fracture, especially from slight injury (trauma)
-
Bone pain, may be worse at night
Bone pain
Bone pain or tenderness is aching or other discomfort in one or more bones.
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Occasionally a mass and swelling can be felt at the tumor site
Some benign tumors have no symptoms.
Exams and Tests
The health care provider will perform a physical exam. Tests that may be done include:
-
Alkaline phosphatase blood level
Alkaline phosphatase
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is a protein found in all body tissues. Tissues with higher amounts of ALP include the liver, bile ducts, and bone. A blo...
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Bone biopsy
Bone biopsy
A bone lesion biopsy is the removal of a piece of bone or bone marrow for examination.
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Bone scan
Bone scan
A bone scan is an imaging test used to diagnose bone diseases and find out how severe they are.
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Chest x-ray
- CT scan of the chest
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MRI of the bone and surrounding tissue
MRI
A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan is an imaging test that uses powerful magnets and radio waves to create pictures of the body. It does not us...
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X-ray of bone and surrounding tissue
X-ray of bone
A bone x-ray is an imaging test to look at the bones.
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PET scan
PET scan
A positron emission tomography (PET) scan is a type of imaging test. It uses a radioactive substance called a tracer to look for disease in the body...
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The following tests may also be ordered to monitor the disease:
-
Alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme
Alkaline phosphatase isoenzyme
Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) is an enzyme found in many body tissues such as liver, bile ducts, bone, and intestine. There are several different struc...
ImageRead Article Now Book Mark Article - Blood calcium level
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Blood phosphorus level
Blood phosphorus
The phosphorus blood test measures the amount of phosphate in the blood.
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Treatment
Some benign bone tumors go away on their own and do not need treatment. Your provider will closely monitor you. You will likely need regular imaging tests, such as x-rays, to see if the tumor shrinks or grows.
Surgery may be needed to remove the tumor in some cases.
Treatment for cancerous bone tumors that have spread from other parts of the body depends on where the cancer started. Radiation therapy may be given to prevent fractures or to relieve pain. Chemotherapy may be used to prevent fractures or the need for surgery or radiation.
Radiation therapy
Radiation therapy uses high-powered radiation (such as x-rays or gamma rays), particles, or radioactive seeds to kill cancer cells.
Chemotherapy
The term chemotherapy is used to describe cancer-killing drugs. Chemotherapy may be used to:Cure the cancerShrink the cancerPrevent the cancer from ...
Tumors that start in the bone are rare. After biopsy, a combination of chemotherapy and surgery is usually necessary. Radiation therapy may be needed before or after surgery.
Support Groups
You can ease the stress of illness by joining a cancer support group. Sharing with others who have common experiences and problems can help you not feel alone.
Cancer support group
The following organizations are good resources for information on cancer:American Cancer Society. Support and online communities. www. cancer. org/...
Read Article Now Book Mark ArticleOutlook (Prognosis)
How well you do depends on the type of bone tumor.
The outcome is usually good in people with noncancerous (benign) tumors. But some benign bone tumors can turn into cancer.
People with cancerous bone tumors that have not spread may be cured. The cure rate depends on the type of cancer, location, size, and other factors. Talk to your provider about your particular cancer.
Possible Complications
Problems that may result from the tumor or treatment include:
- Pain
- Reduced function, depending on the tumor
- Side effects of chemotherapy
- Spread of the cancer to other nearby tissues (metastasis)
When to Contact a Medical Professional
Contact your provider if you have symptoms of a bone tumor.
Reviewed By
Todd Gersten, MD, Hematology/Oncology, Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute, Wellington, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team. Editorial update 08/29/2024.
Heck RK, Toy PC. Malignant tumors of bone. In: Azar FM, Beaty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 27.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network website. NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology (NCCN guidelines): Bone cancer. Version 1.2025. www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/bone.pdf. Updated August 20, 2024. Accessed August 29, 2024.
Toy PC, Heck RK. Benign bone tumors and nonneoplastic conditions simulating bone tumors. In: Azar FM, Beaty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 25.
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