ABSTRACT
Benign bone tumors are neoplasms which have their origin in bone and lack criteria of malignant tumors, i.e. infiltrative growth pattern and distant metastases. They are classified according to the WHO criteria concerning the tumor matrix (osseous, cartilaginous, fibrous etc.). Traditionally there are also some non-neoplastic bone lesions which are classified as benign bone tumors and belonging to the group of tumor-like bone lesions. For the physician it is important to know those entities which are harmless, as well as those which can tend to re-occur or which ones can be locally destructive. Finally, some tumors are at risk of becoming malignant (large and proximal enchondromas or multiple tumors within a syndromal disease). Treatment is in most cases uncomplicated and can range between observation, curettage and sometimes extensive resection with complex defect reconstruction.
Subject(s)
Bone Neoplasms/diagnosis , Bone Neoplasms/surgery , Bone Neoplasms/classification , HumansABSTRACT
For the most part soft tissue tumors are benign. However, the clinical presentation, including radiological aspects, is not always clear. Therefore, a biopsy is necessary in some cases to detect malignant tumors at an early stage. The course of even benign tumors is sometimes complicated. A not insignificant group of local, aggressive or intermediary tumors tend to recur and in exceptional cases can be fatal. Benign soft tissue tumors are subdivided according to the current WHO classification from 2002. They are classified by the tissue they mimick. In clinical practice they are additionally grouped according to aggressiveness. Some benign soft tissue tumors occur in the context of a syndrome, leading to multiple tumors. In these cases there is the threat of a tumor becoming malignant (neurofibromatosis, Maffucci syndrome).
