Specialists in tumor orthopedics deal with benign and malignant tumors of bones and muscles. These tumors are rare, and diagnosis and treatment are often not easy. For this reason, those affected should seek treatment in specialized tumour centers and from specialists in tumour orthopaedics.
Here you will find further information and selected tumor orthopaedics specialists and centers.
Tumor orthopaedics deals with
The latter are tumor metastases from, for example
The frequency of occurrence is as follows: Less than four percent of malignant orthopaedic tumors are primary bone tumors. The rest are metastases, i.e. metastases of other tumors.
Tumors of the musculoskeletal system can be divided into bone and soft tissue tumors. Among these, a distinction is made between benign and malignant tumors. The ratio of malignant soft tissue tumors to bone tumors is approximately 10:1.
Malignant bone tumors(bone sarcomas) occur more frequently between the ages of 20 and 40. They mainly affect the arms and legs. They only account for around 0.2 percent of all malignant tumors.
Malignant soft tissue tumors (soft tissue sarcomas), on the other hand, mainly occur after the age of 50. They most frequently affect the lower extremities. They account for around one percent of all sarcomas.
Benign tumors usually spread slowly and do not metastasize. Sarcomas, on the other hand, often grow quickly and are locally aggressive. They also have a high tendency to metastasize.
Tumor orthopaedics and sarcoma surgery deal to a large extent with tumor diseases in the metastatic stage. These account for around 25 percent of all deaths. Around 90 percent of people who die from tumors have bone metastases.
As soon as a tumor breaks through the wall of a blood vessel, cancer cells can spread throughout the body © 7activestudio | AdobeStock
Early and correct diagnosis is crucial for successful treatment. Unfortunately, many bone or soft tissue tumors are diagnosed late because their symptoms vary greatly. Pain also often occurs late.
For this reason, patients should always visit a specialist center for tumour orthopaedics.
For correct treatment, it is extremely important to classify bone and soft tissue sarcomas as precisely as possible. For example, sarcomas are assessed in terms of their degree of differentiation - i.e. the extent to which the tumor tissue differs from healthy tissue. The degree of metastasis - i.e. the regional and systemic spread of the tumor - also plays a role.
Physical examinations and imaging procedures are used for the diagnosis, such as
If a patient is then suspected of having a bone sarcoma, a biopsy is carried out to confirm the findings. As a rule, such findings are also assessed by an interdisciplinary team of doctors.
If the suspicion of a malignant tumor is confirmed, the medical team will develop an individual treatment plan.
In the case of benign tumors, observation of the progression may be sufficient in some cases. Malignant tumors, on the other hand, must always be completely removed surgically. Systematic follow-up care is always required after the operation, which extends over several years.
The prognosis depends on the type and degree of differentiation of the tumor.
If bone metastases are already present, this means that the sarcoma has entered the bloodstream. This means that it can form metastases independently of the original tumor.
In principle, metastases can form in any bone. Various tumors affect certain bone sections more frequently than others, for example
Breast cancer, for example, often spreads to the bones, whereas soft tissue tumors of the muscle rarely do.
Surgical treatment of primary bone and soft tissue tumors aims to safely remove the tumor.
The aim of surgical treatment of bone and soft tissue metastases is usually not to remove the metastasis. Instead, the aim is to maintain quality of life and mobility as far as possible. Doctors therefore try to control the tumor locally and avoid functional deficits and further surgery.
In the case of bone and soft tissue metastases,the prognosis and chances of recovery cannot usually be influenced by surgery. Radiotherapy is used for sites that are difficult to access surgically and for local tumor pain.
The right place to go for patients with bone and soft tissue tumors or metastases are special musculoskeletal tumor centers. These not only employ specialists in tumor orthopaedics, but also representatives of other specialist disciplines such as
In Germany, the German Cancer Society certifies tumor centers as
This certification makes tumor centers comparable. It also ensures that patients with these rare diseases receive optimal care at the certified centers.
Certification takes place in a three-stage process.
Specialists also have the opportunity to register with the specialist association for oncology as a
as a tumor surgeon or tumor orthopedist.
Scientific research and studies are also carried out in the tumor centers to further improve treatment.
Tumor orthopaedics is used for the diagnosis and treatment of
Tumors of the skeletal system occur only very rarely, and diagnosis and treatment are complex.
While benign tumors are often only observed, malignant tumors must always be completely removed during surgery. If the tumor has already metastasized, surgery is more concerned with maintaining the patient's quality of life.
Early and correctly induced therapy is crucial for the success of treatment and the chances of survival. Patients should therefore always seek treatment at specialized tumour centers.
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