Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors
Diagnosis and Treatment
Bone and soft tissue tumors can have a profound effect on patients and families. Benign bone tumors frequently cause fractures and can threaten the ability to participate in sports. Without proper treatment, malignant tumors can lead to loss of limb function and a shortened lifespan.
Substantial advances have been made in our ability to cure patients and restore a functional limb in the majority of patients with bone tumors.
A partial list of the types of tumors we treat includes:
Benign tumors
- Bone Cyst (Aneurysmal)
- Bone Cyst (Unicameral or Simple)
- Chondroblastoma
- Desmoid Tumor
- Non-Ossifying Fibroma
- Osteoid Osteoma
Malignant tumors
- Ewing's Sarcoma
- Fibrosarcoma
- Liposarcoma
- Malignant Fibrous Histiocytoma
- Osteosarcoma
- Neurofibrosarcoma
- Rhabdomyosarcoma
- Synovial Sarcoma
Services provided through the Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor Program include:
- Radiographic studies (including MRI, CT and ultrasound)
- Biopsy and laboratory tests
- Initial consultation (benign tumor): Patients with benign tumors are advised about treatment options aiming to return them to full activities with a minimum of intervention.
- Multidisciplinary evaluation (malignant tumor): Children's orthopedic surgeons and the oncologists at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute extensively evaluate patients with malignant tumors.
Following a complete evaluation of the radiographic studies and the biopsy results, a comprehensive treatment program is provided, often in conjunction with oncologists near the patient's home.
