UMEM Educational Pearls

Title: Bone tumors in children

Category: Orthopedics

Keywords: cancer, pediatrics (PubMed Search)

Posted: 5/25/2019 by Brian Corwell, MD (Updated: 11/22/2024)
Click here to contact Brian Corwell, MD

Bone tumors can present as MSK pain!

Pain may be activity related initially (can lead to misdiagnosis)

Over time will progress to rest pain and night pain

1) Primary osteosarcoma - most common primary malignant bone tumor

Adolescents, male > female

70% occur about the knee (also in hip/pelvis and upper arm)

pain, swelling, tenderness to palpation

Consider in the presentation of non traumatic knee pain!

2) Ewing's sarcoma

Peak incidence ages 10-20, male > female

pain, swelling, tendernes to palpation

Elevated temps and ESR

Consider in the differential of osteomyelitis!!

Variable location - lusually the extremities but also pelvis, scapula, ribs