[Diagnosis of malignant bone and soft part tumors]

In most bone tumors, the patient's local symptoms, which are usually pain and/or swelling, are nonspecific. Laboratory studies are of little significance in the diagnosis of the bone tumors, except myeloma and metastatic prostatic carcinoma. Though a definitive diagnosis must be made histologically, roentgenograms afford practically conclusive evidence of the malignant or benign nature of bony lesions and often indicate the histologic type. Differential diagnosis of malignant bone tumors which were misled as benign conditions were mainly described, and advantages and disadvantages of radiologic imaging methods such as RI, CT, and MRI, were also discussed. In the diagnosis of malignant soft part tumors, aspiration biopsy was strongly recommended but this necessitates experts' hand to avoid dissemination of the tumor cells to the normal tissue.