EARLY DIAGNOSIS SAVES LIFE IN BONE TUMOR

IF YOU RECOGNIZE ABNORMAL SWELLING IN YOUR BODY, YOU MIGHT HAVE BEEN RACING AGAINST DEATH

BE CAREFUL ESPECIALLY FOR CHILDHOOD AND ADOLESCENCE.

We had no many therapeutic options for a malignant bone tumor 2 to 3 decades ago; survival rate of the patients with osteosarcoma and ewing sarcom was around 5 percent, but now remarkable cure can be achieved with multi-agent chemotherapy and appropriate surgical treatment, and survival rate in prognosis of the patients with osteosarcoma and ewing sarcom is increased from 5-10% to 65-70%.

Indeed, this achievement is associated with early diagnosis.

The term “tumor” means “swelling” or “lump” in Latin.

This lump or mass lesion is manifested by abnormal tissue growth in body other than healthy tissues.

Tissue growth can be benign, malignant or metastatic in nature.

Metastatic tumors are more common in comparison to primary tumors.

Malignant bone tumors are called as “sarcoma”.

Benign and malignant bone tumors are mostly diagnosed in childhood and adolescence.

Incidence is 4-5/100.000 for benign ones, while it is around 1/100.000 for malignant tumors.

Late diagnosis or inappropriate diagnostic practice is a common problem for this type of tumors.

The patients with abnormal lumps in body should necessarily seek help from an orthopedist who deals with bone tumors.

Being informed about the clinical and radiological findings of bone tumors will ensure early referral of those patients to correct healthcare facilities and early diagnosis and management accordingly.

Early diagnosis in bone tumors not only mark the line between life and death, but it may also allow limb conserving surgery.

Malignant bone tumors are managed with multidisciplinary approach (concerning more than one branch). It includes surgical treatment, chemotherapy (medication therapy) and/or radiotherapy (beam therapy) depending on type of tumor.

Briefly, early diagnosis and correct treatment in bone tumors save life, as the case also for treatment of all other tumors.

Prof. Bahtiyar Demiralp, M.D.