Bone Tumors - Benign

Your bones perform a number of essential functions. They support and protect your internal organs. They act as levers and braces for your muscles to help you move. They also produce and store blood cells in the bone marrow. (Read about "Skeletal System")

Bone tumors that are benign are noncancerous. Malignant tumors of the bone are bone cancer. (Read about "Bone Cancer")

According to the National Cancer Institute (NCI), benign bone tumors are more common than malignant ones. Benign tumors do not spread and are usually not life threatening. However, they can grow and compress healthy bone tissue; they can also absorb or replace healthy tissue with abnormal tissue.

The American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) says common benign tumors include:

• Osteochondroma - Solitary osteochondromas are the most common benign bone tumor. This condition is marked by bony growths that project from the surface of the affected bone and is most common among teens and young adults. The most common symptom is a painless bump near the joints. However, if the osteochondroma has a stalk, and the stalk breaks off, there can be pain and swelling. Multiple osteochondromatosis is diagnosed when there are two or more osteochondromas. (Read about "Chest Tumors")
• Fibrous dysplasia - This is a chronic bone condition in which a portion of a bone develops abnormally. It starts before birth, but is often not discovered until childhood or even adulthood. The area of affected bone can cause pain, can fracture and can lead to deformity. The most common bones involved are the thighbone, shinbone, ribs, skull, upper arm bone and pelvis.
• Giant cell tumor - This type of bone tumor usually starts in the ends of bones and tends to occur more frequently in young adults. It can cause extreme pain. It is considered rare, but aggressive. If not treated, these tumors will continue to grow and destroy bone. AAOS says surgery has proven to be the most effective treatment for giant cell tumors. Radiation (Read about "Radiation Therapy"), embolization and drug therapy may be options.
• Unicameral bone cyst or solitary bone cyst - This is a fluid-filled cavity that can weaken bones, leading to increased risk of fracture. (Read about "Bone Fractures") It is more common in children. Common locations include the upper arm or thighbone, but unicameral bone cysts can also develop in the pelvis, ankle or elsewhere. If there appears to be a heightened risk of fracture, the cyst may be drained, and then the bone may be injected with material to strengthen it.
• Osteoid osteomas - These are small tumors that can develop on any bone, but are most often seen on the arms and legs. They occur most often in children and adolescents, and are considered rare. They can be very painful and can result in scoliosis. (Read about "Curvature of the Spine") If symptoms are severe, surgical removal may be necessary.
• Benign cartilage tumors - Benign cartilaginous tumors are some of the most common lesions affecting the skeletons of children. These include exostoses, enchondromas, periosteal chondromas, chondromyxoid fibroma and chondroblastoma.

X-rays can show the presence of a bone tumor. (Read about "X-rays") A bone scan, magnetic resonance imaging and/or CT scan can be used in diagnosis as well. (Read about "CT Scan - Computerized Tomography" "MRI - Magnetic Resonance Imaging") If cancer is suspected, a biopsy would be needed to determine whether cancer is present. (Read about "Biopsy")

In many cases, according to AAOS, benign bone tumors need no treatment other than observation. In the case of cysts, steroids may be injected and/or the fluid may need to be removed by needle. In the case of giant cell tumors, surgery is often needed.

It may be necessary to remove some types of benign tumor to reduce the risk of fracture and disability. It's also possible that a benign tumor may come back after removal. Some types of benign tumors can also become malignant (i.e. turn into cancer) and metastasize.