Bone Cancer Flashcards
What is the shaft of a long bone called?
diaphysis
What is the end of a long bone called?
epiphysis
What is the area between the end and shaft of a long bone called? What is special about this area?
metaphysis - it is the area where longitudinal growth occurs
What area of the bone is likeliest to have cancer? Why?
metaphysis - because it is an area of high growth and turnover (cells replicating frequently… mutation likelier to occur)
Is it more common for bone cancer to be primary in nature or secondary (metastases)?
secondary bone cancer is most common
What differentiates the different types of primary tumours?
- histology
- specific locations on the skeleton
- different areas of bone affected
ex. Ewing sarcoma tends to effect shafts of long bones (femur, humerus, tibia) and hip
What is osteosarcoma?
- bone forming tumour, a malignancy of bone proper
- most common form of primary bone cancer
Where does osteosarcoma normally occur?
in the vicinity of the knee
Is osteosarcoma an agressive or slow form of cancer?
aggressive
Where does osteosarcoma normally metastasize to?
lungs
Who normally gets osteosarcoma?
75% occurs before age of 20
25% in elderly who have underlying bone problem (ex. Paget’s disease)
What are manifestations of bone cancer?
pain, swelling
What is a complication of bone cancer? Why does this occur?
fracture (this is serious! especially since you will then have trouble healing afterwards)
occurs because the bone is weakened by the lesion
What types of lesions occur in bone cancer?
lytic or blastic (malignant cells make room for themselves through enzymatic destruction)
How common is secondary bone cancer?
50% of all cancers will spread to bone if you leave it
85% of secondary cancers are from breast, lung, prostate
