Bone TumorSymptoms, Doctors, Treatments, Advances & More
Learn About Bone Tumor
A bone tumor is an abnormal growth of cells within a bone. A bone tumor may be cancerous (malignant) or noncancerous (benign).
Tumor - bone; Bone cancer; Primary bone tumor; Secondary bone tumor; Bone tumor - benign
The cause of bone tumors is unknown. They often occur in areas of the bone that grow rapidly. Possible causes include:
- Genetic variants passed down through families
- Radiation
- Injury
In most cases, no specific cause is found.
Osteochondromas are the most common noncancerous (benign) bone tumors. They occur most often in young people between the ages of 10 and 20.
Cancers that start in the bones are called primary bone tumors. Bone cancers that start in another part of the body (such as the breast, lungs, or colon) are called secondary or metastatic bone tumors. They behave very differently from primary bone tumors.
Cancerous primary bone tumors include:
- Chondrosarcoma
- Ewing sarcoma
- Fibrosarcoma
- Osteosarcoma
Cancers that most often spread to the bone are cancers of the:
- Breast
- Kidney
- Lung
- Prostate
- Thyroid
These forms of cancer usually affect older people.
Bone cancer is more common in people who have a family history of cancers.
Symptoms of a bone tumor may include any of the following:
- Bone fracture, especially from slight injury (trauma)
- Bone pain, may be worse at night
- Occasionally a mass and swelling can be felt at the tumor site
Some benign tumors have no symptoms.
Some benign bone tumors go away on their own and do not need treatment. Your provider will closely monitor you. You will likely need regular imaging tests, such as x-rays, to see if the tumor shrinks or grows.
Surgery may be needed to remove the tumor in some cases.
Treatment for cancerous bone tumors that have spread from other parts of the body depends on where the cancer started. Radiation therapy may be given to prevent fractures or to relieve pain. Chemotherapy may be used to prevent fractures or the need for surgery or radiation.
Tumors that start in the bone are rare. After a biopsy, a combination of chemotherapy and surgery is usually necessary. Radiation therapy may be needed before or after surgery.
Duke Cancer Center
As an orthopaedic oncologist, I am passionate about providing the best diagnostic and therapeutic surgical care for patients with benign or malignant bone or soft tissue tumors of the musculoskeletal system. As the director of the Sarcoma program at the Duke Cancer Institute, my passion is building our team to provide the best clinical care and basic scientific, translational and clinical research to serve our patients. Dr. Brigman is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Bone Tumor. He is also highly rated in 29 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Bone Tumor, Chondrosarcoma, Bone Graft, and Hip Replacement. Dr. Brigman is board certified in American Board Of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery.
Duke Cancer Center
As an orthopedic oncologist, I treat cancers of the bone and muscle. My background is very different from most doctors. I started as a veterinarian and became interested in cancer because so many dogs have cancer, and I came to medical school to learn how to treat and beat some of these types of cancer. I’m still a veterinarian, and that’s a big part of what we do here. Many cancers of the bone and muscles, called sarcomas, are rare in people, but common in dogs. So continuing to treat dogs with this type of cancer lets us and our group gain a deeper understanding of how these cancers work. With my patients, I try to find out what the cancer has taken from them, and what their goals are for how to get back in control. For some, their goal is to beat the cancer no matter what. For others, the goal is to keep walking or to be able to walk again, or to be in less pain. Then we try to tailor our approach to the patient. Often, people think being a surgical oncologist must be a terrible job. But I find something in each patient to admire, because patients dealing with cancer develop a strength the rest of us don’t get to have. Dr. Eward is rated as an Elite provider by MediFind in the treatment of Bone Tumor. He is also highly rated in 24 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Adult Soft Tissue Sarcoma, Bone Tumor, Desmoid Tumor, Bone Graft, and Hip Replacement. Dr. Eward is board certified in American Board Of Orthopaedic Surgery, Orthopaedic Surgery.
Bassett Medical Center
Timothy Korytko is a Radiation Oncologist practicing medicine in Cooperstown, New York. Dr. Korytko is rated as a Distinguished provider by MediFind in the treatment of Bone Tumor. He is also highly rated in 41 other conditions, according to our data. His clinical expertise encompasses Prostate Cancer, Familial Prostate Cancer, Throat Cancer, and Lung Adenocarcinoma.
You can ease the stress of illness by joining a cancer support group. Sharing with others who have common experiences and problems can help you not feel alone.
How well you do depends on the type of bone tumor.
The outcome is usually good in people with noncancerous (benign) tumors. But some benign bone tumors can turn into cancer.
People with cancerous bone tumors that have not spread may be cured. The cure rate depends on the type of cancer, location, size, and other factors. Talk to your provider about your particular cancer.
Problems that may result from the tumor or treatment include:
- Pain
- Reduced function, depending on the tumor
- Side effects of chemotherapy
- Spread of the cancer to other nearby tissues (metastasis)
Contact your provider if you have symptoms of a bone tumor.
Summary: The purpose of this study is to evaluate feasibility and acceptability of completing PROs among AYAs randomized to Choice PRO vs Fixed PRO.
Summary: Any time the words you, your, I, or me appear, it is meant to apply to the potential participant. The goal of this clinical research study is to find the highest tolerable dose of gemcitabine that can be given by inhalation (breathing it as a mist) to patients with solid tumors that have spread to the lungs from other parts of the body. The safety and side effects of this drug will also be studied...
Published Date: January 29, 2026
Published By: Warren Brenner, MD, Oncologist, Lynn Cancer Institute, Boca Raton, FL. Review provided by VeriMed Healthcare Network. Also reviewed by David C. Dugdale, MD, Medical Director, Brenda Conaway, Editorial Director, and the A.D.A.M. Editorial team.
Heck RK, Toy PC. Malignant tumors of bone. In: Azar FM, Beaty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 27.
Jones RL. Malignant bone tumors, sarcomas, and other soft tissue neoplasms. In: Goldman L, Cooney KA, eds. Goldman-Cecil Medicine. 27th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2024:chap 187.
Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al. Neoplasms of bone. In: Kliegman RM, St. Geme JW, Blum NJ, et al, eds. Nelson Textbook of Pediatrics. 22nd ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2025:chap 550.
National Cancer Institute website. Osteosarcoma and undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma of bone treatment (PDQ) - health professional version. www.cancer.gov/types/bone/hp/ osteosarcoma-treatment-pdq. Updated December 2, 2024. Accessed April 23, 2026.
National Comprehensive Cancer Network website. NCCN clinical practice guidelines in oncology (NCCN guidelines): Bone cancer. Version 2.2026. www.nccn.org/professionals/physician_gls/pdf/bone.pdf. Updated December 19, 2025. Accessed April 10, 2026.
Toy PC, Heck RK. Benign bone tumors and nonneoplastic conditions simulating bone tumors. In: Azar FM, Beaty JH, eds. Campbell's Operative Orthopaedics. 14th ed. Philadelphia, PA: Elsevier; 2021:chap 25.