[Clinicopathology of bone metastases causing pathological fractures]

Of malignancies occurring in bones, metastatic tumours are the most frequent. Due to the increase of mean life span and to other factors the incidence of tumours is growing. Nevertheless, survival chances of patients suffering from tumours are also improving due to advance in diagnostics and to the application of complex therapy. These trends have substantially increased the number of recognized and manageable bone metastases. In general, life expectations of a tumour-patient are determined by the metastases therefore, the question of diagnostics and management of bone metastases is worth of special attention. Authors have performed a clinicopathological survey of patients of the past eight years who have suffered fracture due to bone metastases and were treated surgically. In one-third of the patients the primary tumour was unknown at the time of the fracture. On the basis of the histological pattern the detection of the parent-organ, particularly in adenocarcinomas, was not possible. Independently from the radiological appearance of the metastasis simultaneous osteogenesis and osteolysis were histologically observed.