[Basic diagnostics of bone tumors]
1Institut für Radiologie, St. Johannes Hospital, Katholisches Klinikum Duisburg, An der Abtei 7-11, 47166, Duisburg, Deutschland. rainererlemann@yahoo.com
Abstract:
Primary bone tumors and tumorlike lesions are rare. However, they are found on x-ray incidentally or during examination of a painful skeletal region. This article explains how to diagnose such a detected lesion. Primarily, the growth rate is analyzed according to the Lodwick classification to differentiate a benign from a malignant lesion. With that, the lesser experienced clinician has solved the most important task in the diagnostic process. Further steps include analysis of the tumor matrix and the location within the tumor-bearing bone to make a specific diagnosis. Finally, the patient's age is included as a further parameter. With an optimized combination of the different parameters, the expert achieves a correct specific diagnosis in about 80% of cases.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Blood and Nerve Supply to the Bones
Nutrient Artery
The nutrient artery is the main blood vessel that enters the diaphysis via the nutrient foramen. While most long bones have only one nutrient foramen, large bones, such as the femur, may have two. This...
01:29Bone Disorders
Bone deposition is also affected by the levels of sex hormones like estrogen and testosterone that promote osteoblast activity and bone matrix synthesis. When the level of these hormones decreases due to aging, it causes a reduction in bone deposition. As a result, bone resorption by osteoclasts...
01:17Gross Anatomy of Bone
The diaphysis is the tubular shaft that runs between the proximal and distal ends of the bone. The walls of the diaphysis are composed of dense and hard compact bone made of numerous osteons — the functional unit of the compact bone. The hollow region in the diaphysis is called the medullary cavity, which harbors the bone marrow. In infants and children, this marrow cavity is filled with red marrow, whereas in adults, it...