Tumors
A tumor is an abnormal growth of body tissue. The tumors occur when cells divide excessively in the body. They can be malignant (cancerosos) o benignos (in cancerous). A cancer tumor no means.
The prognosis of patients with tumors affecting the bones and soft tissues of the musculoskeletal system has improved very significantly in recent times, through the development of new drugs and chemotherapy treatments and advances in orthopedic oncology.
Symptoms
Symptoms depend on the type and location of the tumor. The most common symptom of bone cancer is pain, although other symptoms may occur depending on the location and size of the cancer. Rarely does a cancer start their development from bone, More often, the cancer has spread to the bone from elsewhere in the body.
Compared with other types of malignancy, Soft tissue sarcomas are relatively rare tumors and usually cause no pain. For this reason, diagnosis and treatment of the same frequency is to delayed. Often detected after minor trauma in the area of origin, have drawn attention to that area (the coup was not the cause of its origin). The appearance of a lump that does not disappear after trauma is the usual reason for medical consultation of patients with sarcomas.
Diagnosis
The doctor will make the patient's medical history and will conduct a thorough physical exam, then a study of the mass was performed by imaging: either by conventional radiological films, which will determine if there is bone involvement, or magnetic resonance. With the information obtained in these tests, performing a biopsy will be assessed.
Treatment
The treatment of tumors of the musculoskeletal system depend, inter alia, whether it is a benign or malignant tumor, their location and age of the patient.
Surgery is the usual treatment with chemotherapy and radiotherapy. Progress in surgical techniques now allows preservation surgeries members, most conservative possible, with good short and long term.
Amputation of the affected limb by tumor, that was the technique used in orthopedic oncology patients for a long time, no longer performed in a high number of cases.
In his stead, has gained prominence surgery limb preservation. With the development of diagnostic methods that allow delineating the extent of the tumor and the use of bone grafts, tumor prosthesis or combinations thereof, tumor control is achieved by maintaining high functionality in the patient.
The mortality rate of these tumors has improved in a dramatic way in the past two decades.
The multidisciplinary treatment of tumor pathology of the musculoskeletal system is essential, orthopedic surgeon closely with other specialists, plays a substantial role in the team. Since bone cancer can return after treatment, it is important that regular monitoring visits are conducted