Patients with Paget's disease of bone have a much higher rate of malignant bone tumor than the general population. The prognosis is usually very poor although there are exceptions.
Types of bone tumors:
(1) osteosarcoma (most common type)
(2) malignant fibrous histiocytoma
(3) fibrosarcoma
(4) giant cell tumor of bone
(5) malignant lymphoma
Risk factors:
(1) advanced age with longstanding disease
(2) polyostotic disease
Clinical findings:
(1) bone pain
(2) sudden appearance of a mass lesion on a bone
(3) pathologic fracture
(4) pulmonary nodules
Most common locations:
(1) humerus
(2) pelvis (ilium, pubis)
(3) femur
(4) skull
(5) mandible
Prognostic factors:
(1) prompt diagnosis
(2) aggressive management (which may not be possible in the elderly)
To read more or access our algorithms and calculators, please log in or register.
