Alternative Names
Tumor – bone; Bone cancer
Definition of Bone tumors
A bone tumor is an abnormal growth of cells within the bone that may be noncancerous (benign) or cancerous (malignant).
Causes, incidence, and risk factors
The cause of bone tumors is unknown. They often arise in areas of rapid growth. Possible causes include:
Treatment
Benign bone tumors may not require treatment, but may be looked at regularly to check if they grow or shrink. Surgical removal of the tumor may be necessary.
Expectations (prognosis)
The outlook depends on the type of tumor. The outcome is expected to be good for people with noncancerous (benign) tumors, although some types of benign tumors may eventually become cancerous (malignant).
Review
David C. Dugdale, III, MD, Professor of Medicine, Division of General Medicine, Department of Medicine, University of Washington School of Medicine; Yi-Bin Chen, MD, Leukemia/Bone Marrow Transplant Program, Massachusetts General Hospital. Also reviewed by David Zieve, MD, MHA, Medical Director, A.D.A.M., Inc. – 3/2/2010
