[Value of roentgen diagnosis in recognition of primary and potentially malignant bone tumors]

To assess the efficiency of plain radiographs for the detection of primary and potentially malignant bone tumors a retrospective study in 70 patients with histologically proven bone sarcomas was performed. Plain radiographs were the first imaging modality in most cases and for many patients the basic step leading to further diagnostic investigations. With young patients suffering from bone pain imaging work-up was obtained immediately, whereas older patients showed significant delay until radiographs were performed. The findings of this study suggest that radiography is an effective tool for the diagnosis of primary and potentially malignant bone tumors and that physicians should think of bone tumors also when patients beyond the adolescence have focal bone pain.