Bone tumors are abnormal growth of cells which grows out of control forming a mass of tissue. Most of these tumors are benign or non-cancerous. But these can weaken the bone and result in fractures or other similar problems. Cancerous tumors spread to other parts of the body and destroys the normal bone tissue.
Most common type of benign bone tumors are:
- Osteochondroma: This benign tumor is mostly seen under the age of 20
- Giant cell tumor: This type of tumor is seen in the leg
- Osteoid osteoma: This bone tumor occurs in long bones affecting people under the age of 30
- Osteoblastoma: This single bone tumor occurs in the spine and long bones in young adults
- Echondroma: These are tumors found in hand and feet and form the most common type of hand tumor
Bone cancer is mostly spread from other parts of the body and not primary in origin. Although it has affected the bones, it is not considered as bone cancer as the tumor cells have originated in the primary cancer location, so the cancer would be known after the primary location. For example, lung cancer with metastasis to bones. Some of the cancers that commonly spread to bones include breast cancer, prostate cancer and lung cancer. Multiple myeloma, though found in bones, does not originate in bone but in the bone marrow cells.
Primary bone cancer originates in the bone and is less common than metastatic cancer, which is spread from other parts of the body.
Some of the most common types of bone cancer include:
- Osteosarcoma: This form of primary bone cancer is mostly found around the knee and upper arm.
- Ewing's sarcoma: This disease is very common in young ages between 5 and 20. Locations where this form of cancer is commonly seen include ribs, pelvis, leg and upper arm.
- Chondrosarcoma: This cancer is mostly seen in people between 40 and 70 years of age. It begins in the cartilage and is mostly seen in hip, pelvis, leg, arm and shoulder
