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General Features of Musculoskeletal Tumors


- See:
      - Radiographic Features:
      - Histologic Features:

- Painful Tumors:
    - clinical features associated with bone tumors include pain, deformity, and impairment of function;
    - pain is feature common to almost all malignant tumors of bone, but may or may not be present in benign lesions;
    - malignant bone tumors are usually associated with deep, aching pain, which, although not sharp and sometimes not severe, is quite
          distressing to the patient because of its constancy;
    - pain that persists at night & is not relieved by rest is suggestive of malignancy; however, certain benign tumors, such as osteoid osteoma
          are characterized by nocturnal pain;
    - mild, dull, aching back pain that suddenly becomes excruciating w/ such insignificant trauma as sitting down a bit hard suggests Pathologic
          compression frx in vertebra involved by metastatic cancer;

- Pathologic Frx:
    - many tumors gradually erode bone and weaken it to the extent that it cannot withstand the strain of ordinary use;
    - in such situations, minimal trauma may precipitate Pathologic frx;
    - if there were no symptoms prior to time of frx, chances are that tumor is benign;
    - solitary bone cyst, Fibrous Dysplasia, Nonossifying fibroma, and Enchondromas are benign lesions that frequently are first noted because 
         of  fracture;
    - on other hand, if frx has been preceded by dull, aching pain, possibility of malignant primary bone tumor or metastasis is likely;

- Characteristics of Benign Bone Tumors:
    - benign bone tumors generally do not extend beyond the cortex of bone;
    - often these tumors are surrounded by a radiodense margin of bone;
    - where as metaphyseal tumors are common, diaphyseal tumors are uncommon;
          - diff dx of beign diaphyseal tumors includes EOG and fibrous dysplasia