Overview
Malignant neoplasm of the bone is a technical term for bone cancer. It is the type of bone cancer that has the potential to spread from the organ it originated in, to other sites of the body via blood.
Causes
Cancers are a result of genetic mutations, which lead to uncontrollable growth of cells. Some of the following factors have been linked to the development of malignant neoplasms of the bone:
- Paget’s disease of bone
- Exposure to radiation therapy
Symptoms
The symptoms of most cancers are similar; however, some cancers have some specific symptoms as well. Below are a few symptoms associated with bone cancer:
- Bone pain
- Easily breakable bones
- Swelling and tenderness over the area of bone with cancer
- Fatigue
- Weight loss without trying to lose weight
Diagnosis
The following tests can be done for the diagnosis of malignant neoplasm of the bone:
- X-ray
- CT scan
- MRI
- Bone scan
- PET scan
- Bone biopsy
Treatment
The treatment route taken for the patient depends upon the stage of the cancer that patient has. Some of the following treatment modalities are used for the management of this condition:
- Chemotherapy
- Radiation therapy
- Surgery – to remove the cancer, or to remove the limb the cancer is involved in
