Benign bone tumors

Most benign bone tumors do not cause any complaints and do not require treatment. If symptoms do appear, a doctor should be consulted.

What are benign bone tumors?

Depending on the type and location of the tumor, pain in the affected area, swelling and fractures can occur. A tumor close to the joint can cause joint effusion, which can be seen externally and is usually very painful.
© Africa Studio - stock.adobe.com

By definition, bone tumors are lumps in bony tissue. They are divided into primary and secondary bone tumors. Primary bone tumors arise from the bone tissue itself and can be benign or malignant.

Benign bone tumors grow slowly and do not metastasize. Secondary bone tumors are malignant. They arise from metastases from a cancerous tumor from another organ, for example the breast or the lungs. In most cases, however, there is a benign bone tumor.

There are two major groups:

On the one hand, there are large, painful tumor structures which, in the worst case, can cause deformity of the spine or paralysis. Benign bone tumors that are smaller than two centimeters are called osteoid osteomas. They can cause pain, especially at night, and also impair the stability of the spine.

The most common type is osteochondroma. This is a fungus-shaped tumor that tends to form in the ends of long tubular bones. Usually osteochondromas occur sporadically. In rare cases there is a multiple osteochondroma, in which many tumors usually form at once in childhood.

causes

The causes of benign bone tumors are often not entirely clear. The types of osteochondroma and osteoma can be inherited. Chemical and physical influences from the outside are discussed as further possible causes, including effects from nuclear radiation or injuries.

Benign bone tumors are particularly common when there is rapid bone growth. Most of those affected can therefore be found up to the age of 30. Growth hormones can affect the risk of developing a benign bone tumor.

You can find your medication here

➔ Medicines for joint pain

Symptoms, ailments & signs

Benign bone tumors can cause very different symptoms and complaints. Depending on the type and location of the tumor, pain in the affected area, swelling and fractures can occur. A tumor close to the joint can cause joint effusion, which can be seen externally and is usually very painful.

Pressure damage to nerves and vessels is typical of benign bone tumors. In addition, bone growth is inhibited and there is an acute risk that bones and joints will deform. In severe cases, a bone tumor leads to restricted mobility. The affected person feels severe pain even with slight movements, which make physical work and sporting activity considerably more difficult.

However, benign bone tumors are rarely life-threatening. The symptoms can gradually worsen, but they can also appear with the same intensity over a lifetime. Small tumors often go unnoticed by the patient and are only recognized during a preventive examination.

Large bone tumors can sometimes be seen from the outside, for example when an effusion forms or the bone is deformed. Metastasis or relapses can occur. Chronic pain can also develop if the tumor is treated too late or not at all.

Diagnosis & course

Pain and function tests, such as an exercise test, are done to identify benign bone tumors. The blood flow to the affected bones and joints is also examined during the diagnosis.

If the progression is very advanced, deformations of the joints and bones can be seen. A final diagnosis is made using an X-ray that shows typical changes. A CT, MRI and / or a tissue sample provide certainty as to whether the tumor is benign or malignant.

Furthermore, certain types of benign bone tumors tend to occur in certain places. For example, osteochondromas are mostly found on the ends of the lower and upper thigh bones near the joints.

Most people affected only go to the doctor if their benign bone tumor presses painfully on a nerve or restricts movement in a joint. A benign bone tumor often goes undetected and symptom-free.

Usually the growth only grows as long as the bone grows. That is why the tumors are mainly found in children and adolescents. Certain types of tumor can develop into malignant tumors. Overall, the chances of recovery from benign bone tumors are very good.

Complications

In many cases, these tumors do not need to be treated or examined by a doctor. There is usually no pain or other symptoms and the patient's quality of life is not affected by the disease. However, treatment is necessary if these tumors cause symptoms.

There is pain in the affected bones and the bones can be broken much more easily, so that the risk of accidents for the patient increases. Various deformations of the bones and joints also occur, which can lead to pain or restricted mobility of the patient. In children, there is decreased bone growth. This can also lead to discomfort after bone fractures, when the bones no longer grow together properly.

Quite often, in addition to stress pain, there is also pain at rest, which can negatively affect the sleep of the person concerned. The diagnosis is usually only made by chance. A specific diagnosis can only be carried out if there are complaints. There are no further complications with the treatment. The tumors can be removed relatively easily, so that the symptoms disappear afterwards. As a rule, life expectancy is not reduced. In some cases, however, bone cancer can develop.

When should you go to the doctor?

People who suffer from skeletal changes should consult a doctor. If swelling occurs without external influences or ulcers form on the body, this is considered unusual and should be investigated. If there are restrictions in movement, a one-sided posture or an incorrect load on the body, a doctor's visit is necessary. If the skin feels tight, discolored or cracked, a doctor should be consulted to clarify the symptoms.

If there are wounds, bleeding or the leakage of other body fluids, a doctor should be consulted immediately. A reduction in the usual physical strength and performance as well as complaints of muscles, tendons or nerves must be examined and treated. If blood flow disorders occur, it is important to consult a doctor as soon as possible. In the event of bone pain, a feeling of warmth on the skin, increased temperature or fever, a doctor must clarify the symptoms.

If the person concerned suffers from increased tiredness, exhaustion, unsteadiness to walk or dizziness, he should seek medical treatment. If there is inner restlessness, psychological problems or behavioral problems, a doctor is required. Patients with diagnosed benign bone tumors should consult a doctor as soon as there are changes in the abnormalities or the existing symptoms continue to spread.

Doctors & therapists in your area

Treatment & Therapy

Treatment depends on what type of tumor it is, how big it is, where it is, and how old the patient is. Most benign bone tumors are surgically removed as gently as possible. Either artificial implants or your own healthy bone tissue are placed here.

After the operation, any adhesions in the scar area are loosened using ultrasound or soft lasers. If the ability to move is restricted by sticking to the joints, physiotherapy and / or occupational therapy are prescribed.

In the case of growths that grow very slowly and do not trigger symptoms, it can often be sufficient to observe the progression for changes. Some benign bone tumors resolve on their own after a while and do not require any treatment. There are also tumors that heal after a broken bone.

If there is an osteochondroma, it should be surgically removed, as this benign type of tumor can develop into bone cancer in ten to 20 percent of cases.

Outlook & forecast

The prognosis of benign bone tumors depends on the type and group of the tumor. Basically, despite the bone tumors, a patient can have a good life with the disease without shortening his life. However, removal of the tumor is recommended, as this can lead to complications and an immense worsening of the favorable prognosis.

There are tumors that press on surrounding regions in the body and thereby cause symptoms. Vessels and other supply lines of the organism are restricted in their function by the tumors and trigger symptoms. It can lead to paralysis or severe pain. Without treatment and elimination of the tumor, the symptoms will gradually increase. The patient's quality of life declines. A surgical procedure is used to remove the diseased tissue so that the symptoms that have developed regress.

There may be complications with treatment, and there is a possibility that surrounding areas have sustained irreparable damage. The most common type of benign bone tumor is a fungal tumor. The osteochondroma can often be resolved by ultrasound or laser technology and removed from the organism. If there is no medical care, the patient bears the risk that the tumor will mutate into a malignant tumor as the disease progresses.

You can find your medication here

➔ Medicines for joint pain

prevention

So far, there are no known ways to prevent benign bone tumors. In the event of complaints such as pain, restricted mobility or even deformation, a doctor should be consulted. This is especially true for children who are still growing.

Aftercare

Benign bone tumors can also require surgical removal and prolonged monitoring. The benign nature of these tumor types only relates to the tumor mass itself. In most cases it is neither life-threatening nor fatal.

Even so, benign bone tumors can lead to fractures and other health consequences. The term "benign bone tumors" describes slowly growing tumors that establish themselves in the cartilage mass or in bone tissue.

The sharp delimitation and the lack of soft tissue involvement are typical signs of benignity. However, these bone tumors usually have to be removed because benign tumors like these can lead to pain and bone fractures.

In around half of benign bone tumors, after the tumor has been surgically removed, follow-up care only needs to be carried out until the wound has healed. The delineation of tumor-like lesions - such as bone cysts, ganglia, fibrous dysplasia or fibrous cortical defects - should be done.

It is known that the existence of benign bone tumors such as giant cell tumors can certainly lead to metastasis. In this case, the treatment must be tailored accordingly. It includes medical follow-up. This can extend over five or ten years. From a medical point of view, tumor-like lesions are also precarious. Like an aneurysmal bone cyst, these can lead to destruction or loss of joints.

You can do that yourself

Benign bone tumors generally do not require treatment if they do not restrict body structures or cause dysfunction. Still, there are some things that patients can do as a self-help.

If the tumor has not been operated on, those affected should keep regular check-ups or see a doctor if there are new or changing symptoms in order to avoid complications. Even if there are no complaints, self-help in everyday life is helpful in the long term.

This is because benign bone tumors can also increase the risk of the affected bone breaking. Patients have two options here to prevent this risk in everyday life: On the one hand, it is important to avoid strong or abrupt strain, especially the combination of twisting and compression of the bone. On the other hand, it is also important to build up a muscle corset through appropriate training that protects and stabilizes the bone structure.

The patient's cooperation is also important after an operation for a benign bone tumor. Especially with low resilience or limitations in function, the person concerned learns exercises within the framework of physiotherapy or occupational therapy that support the bones muscularly and rebuild its functionality. These exercises can then be continued on your own at home. In addition, the patient can accelerate the regeneration of the skin incision required for the operation through consistent scar care.