The type of biopsy depends on the type and appearance of the tumor. A needle biopsy can be used to diagnose some types of bone cancer. Other types of cancers require larger samples. The type of biopsy you undergo depends on whether you plan to remove the whole tumor or just a part of it. Your doctor can also use a CT scan to determine whether or not the cancer is in the bone.
People with an increased risk of developing bone cancer should seek medical treatment immediately. The most common symptom is strong pain in the area. Pain may come and go. It may be worse at night or during activity. Most people do not have bone cancer, but it is important to see a doctor right away. Some types of bone cancer affect soft tissues surrounding the bone. If your pain is severe, your doctor may decide that you have cancer of soft tissues instead. In such cases, treatment will be different.
Primary bone cancer is rare, accounting for less than one percent of all cancer cases. It is not common in adults, and the number of new cases in the United States this year will be approximately 3,450. However, the disease is often misdiagnosed because it’s difficult to distinguish it from benign bone tumors. In many cases, the cancer has spread to other areas of the body. A biopsy can help determine the exact type of cancer.
Treatment for bone cancer will depend on the stage of the disease, type of tumor, and the extent of the tumor. It may involve surgery or a combination of treatments. In some cases, a surgeon will remove the tumor in one piece and a small portion of surrounding bone. The surgeon will then replace the tumor with bone from another part of the body, or a plastic or metal substitute. In rare cases, a cancer may be too large to be treated with surgery, in which case the affected limb will be removed.
In order to determine which treatment options will be most effective, your physician will perform a bone biopsy. Once the biopsy is done, a pathologist will look at the tissue to assess whether or not the cancer has spread. The pathologist will use the results of the test to assign a grade to the cancer. Stages are marked by the size of the tumor, its rate of growth, and the number of affected bones. The stage of the cancer will also determine how aggressive it is and how long you should wait for treatment.
If you are experiencing pain or swelling in the affected area, your doctor may recommend a bone scan. These imaging tests can reveal the size and location of the tumor. They can also determine if it has spread throughout your body. Your doctor may recommend a biopsy if the x-ray results indicate that your tumor is bone cancer. If you are experiencing a lot of pain or unusual swelling, your doctor may recommend another test. During this test, a radioactive substance is injected into a blood vessel and collected in the bones. The radioactive material is then detected by a scanner.
