Bone cancer is a rare malignant disease of bone that, in most cases, arises due to unknown reasons. The primary bone cancer is among many subtypes - Osteosarcoma, Chondrosarcoma, and Ewing sarcoma are the most common. Every subtype differs in its molecular features, imaging characteristics, and incidences. In all cases, learning how is bone cancer detected can help to ensure effective treatment.
Diagnosis of bone cancer
Broadly, the following tests are performed during bone cancer diagnosis:
- Plain Film Radiograph - It is also known as the plain X-ray of the bone and is the simplest imaging modality. This gives information regarding the changes, such as:
- Destruction of bone due to growing tumour
- Changes in osteoblastic or osteolytic activities of bone
- An appearance of permeative bone due to the growth of tumours in some parts of bone and other parts being normal. It happens mainly in small cell tumours and Ewing's sarcoma.
- Onion skinning - The growing tumour lifts the partially-formed periosteal bone, usually seen in Ewing's sarcoma.
- Sunburst Here, due to considerable periostitis, vertical osteoid calcification occurs.
- Bone MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging) - It is the process of imaging internal structures of bone and soft tissues through large magnets and radio waves. MRI helps find neurovascular abnormalities.
- CT (Computed Tomography) Scan of the bone - A CT scan is done when the MRI is not possible, or the MRI gives contradicted or unclear results. It is also done to identify the metastatic or aggressive bone tumours.
- Bone Scintigraphy (Bone Scan) - A whole-body bone scan or scintigraphy is done to detect malignant bone cancer that has spread to different body parts. It is a type of advanced medicine that uses Technetium-99m as an active agent to record scintillation. from bone cell activity.
- Positron emission tomography (PET) Scan - It utilises radio-labelled F-18 fluoro-deoxy-glucose (FDG), and its uptake by body cells is measured by PET scan. The cancerous cells are more metabolically active than normal body cells, allowing more FDG uptake so it diagnoses abnormal cells in bone.
- Blood tests - After the diagnosis of bone cancer has been confirmed, blood tests are used to determine the patient's baseline blood characteristics. Blood markers are monitored in follow-up to assess whether recurrence has occurred.
- Bone Biopsy is usually performed for a definitive diagnosis, histopathological assessment & tumour grading.
Conclusion
The bone cancer diagnosis involves imaging tests and biopsy methods. The different imaging techniques allow a doctor to get a detailed view of the bone and internal structures. The treatment of bone cancer requires a multimodal approach and is mostly done at specialised bone cancer centres. Of course, these treatments come with an extra financial burden that can be managed well with a health insurance policy.