Diagnose
The first step to diagnosis is the evaluation of the patient?s medical history and a thorough clinical examination. However, when a swelling, a lump or pain is present, imaging tests are important to assist with diagnosis and staging. Imaging processes create detailed images of limb tissues and internal organs.
Es gibt verschiedene Methoden der medizinischen Bildgebung:
- Bone x-rays determine any damage to the bone, new bone growth or fractures
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): MRI is the standard imaging modality. It creates images of the affected bone and also tissues surrounding it allowing doctors to assess whether the disease has spread to other locations in the body. MRI is especially helpful in imaging of the extremities, pelvis, and trunk.
- Computed tomography (CT) can be used to make bone damage as well as lesions in other parts of the body (e.g. lungs or other organs) visible.
- Positron emission tomography (PET) is also an effective imaging modality to determine whether the cancer has spread to other organs. It can also be used to evaluate the effect of a therapy on the tumour.
- Radionuclide bone scans help show if a cancer has spread to other bones. It can find metastases earlier than regular x-rays. Bone scans also can show how much damage the primary cancer has caused in the bone.
The results of the imaging process are important for further therapy planning.
Additional blood tests can help find bone cancer and might reveal further information about the specific type. In patients with osteosarcoma or Ewing sarcoma, certain enzyme levels (alkaline phosphatase or lactate dehydrogenase) might be elevated in the blood.