Oncology Orthopedics
Orthopedic oncology is the specialized medical branch that deals with the diagnosis and surgical and medical treatment of benign and malignant tumors of the musculoskeletal system.
Service Manager
Prof. Rodolfo Capanna
Surgeon
Specialist in Orthopedics and Traumatology
PATHOLOGIES
The orthopedic oncology service at Villa Stuart Nursing Home treats all oncologic skeletal diseases:
- Primary tumors, benign and malignant, of bone
- Primary tumors, benign and malignant, of the soft parts
-
Bone metastases and skeletal localizations of systemic tumors
(myeloma, lymphoma, etc.)
PRIMARY TUMORS OF BONE AND SOFT PARTS
Primary malignant bone tumors are very rare, but include numerous varieties with different characteristics. The most common types are also the most aggressive and predominantly affect young age and are: osteosarcoma, adamantinoma, chondrosarcoma, chordoma, Ewing’s sarcoma of bone, and malignant giant cell tumor.
Multiple myeloma and bone lymphoma are also primary malignant bone tumors, but it is preferable to consider them in the context of metastatic bone disease because the treatment principles are similar.
SYMPTOMS
The onset symptom in this type of tumor is aggravating pain at night rest, which, when it occurs in an active and apparently healthy adolescent, is often attributed to previous trauma. The pain is then followed by a more or less painful tumefaction
DIAGNOSIS
Conventional radiological examination is the first imaging technique that is used in the suspicion of a bone tumor, which is then followed by MRI with contrast medium to evaluate bone marrow involvement, infiltration of surrounding soft tissues, and skip metastases (small distant metastases). Computed Tomography (CT), bone scintigraphy, and Positron Emission Tomography (PET), complete the diagnostic picture.
TREATMENT
Orthopedic oncologic surgery involves:
-
Complex reconstructions:
massive transplants, megaprostheses, microsurgical reconstructions -
Interdisciplinary surgical approaches:
thoracic surgery, vascular surgery, general surgery, neurosurgery - Applications of combined adjuvant and neoadjuvant radio-chemotherapy treatment associated with surgery
- Restorative and regenerative surgery of large post-traumatic and post-infectious osteoarticular loss of substance
BONE METASTASES AND SKELETAL LOCALIZATIONS OF SYSTEMIC TUMORS
Bone metastases are cancer cells that have migrated from a primary tumor and established themselves in bone, forming lesions. They cause pain, pathological fractures, and problems such as hypercalcemia (elevated blood calcium levels) or spinal cord compression.
Skeletal localizations of systemic tumors(myeloma, lymphoma) are multiple myeloma and bone lymphoma, which, although they are primary malignant bone tumors, are considered in the context of metastatic bone disease because the treatment principles are similar.
SYMPTOMS
Bone metastasis means pain and thus great impairment of quality of life.
In about 25% of patients, the diagnosis is made before the onset of symptoms with tests performed to determine the degree of spread of the primary tumor. In the remaining 75% of cases, the spread of disease to bone is detected when a series of complications consisting of:
- Pain
- Decreased mobility
- Pathological fractures
- Compromise of spinal cord or nerve roots
- Bone marrow infiltration
- General decay
TREATMENT
Orthopedic oncologic surgery involves:
-
Complex reconstructions:
massive transplants, megaprostheses, microsurgical reconstructions -
Interdisciplinary surgical approaches:
thoracic surgery, vascular surgery, general surgery, neurosurgery - Applications of combined adjuvant and neoadjuvant radio-chemotherapy treatment associated with surgery
- Restorative and regenerative surgery of large post-traumatic and post-infectious osteoarticular loss of substance
For information and bookings
Monday / Friday 8:00 AM – 8:00 PM / Saturday 8:00 AM – 7:30 PM
The Villa Stuart Clinic is affiliated with major insurance companies and supplementary health care funds.
