Orthopedic oncologists treat patients with both benign (non-cancerous) and malignant (cancerous) tumors that originate from bones and connective tissues.
Connective tissue is made up of cells and fibers that connect and support other parts of the body. Orthopedic oncologists also treat metastatic bone disease, which are cancers that spread to the bones from other organs.
There are numerous benign masses that come from connective tissues, such as lipomas, vascular malformations, myxomas, nerve sheath tumors and many more.
What is a sarcoma?
Sarcomas are cancers that start in the connective tissues of the body. The two main groups of sarcomas are soft tissue sarcomas and bone sarcomas.
Soft tissue sarcomas arise from fat, muscles, nerves, blood vessels and deep skin. They are the most common type of sarcomas and account for about 80% of all sarcomas. Signs and symptoms of a soft tissue sarcoma typically include a mass or lump on an arm or leg, often not painful, that grows over weeks or months.
Bone sarcomas arise from bones and cartilage. Signs and symptoms of a bone sarcoma typically include pain in the affected bone and a lump or mass. Occasionally, a fracture can result due to weakened bone.
