Primary bone tumours of the foot: experience of the Leeds Bone Tumour Registry

Abstract

A survey of the Leeds Regional Bone Tumour Registry found that primary bone tumours of the foot constituted 80 of the 2047 cases to date (3.9%). 31 tumours were found in the talus or calcaneum (38%), 32 in the tarsal and metatarsal bones (40%) and 17 in the phalanges (21%). 55 tumours were benign and 25 were malignant. Malignant tumours occurred in older people (mean age 48 compared with the mean age of 30 for those patients with benign tumours, P < 0.001) and were more likely than benign lesions to present with both pain and swelling ( P < 0.01). In 19 cases (24%) the diagnosis was changed from that of the referring pathologist after review by the Registry and in 5 cases the grade of the lesion was changed from benign to malignant or vice versa. The implications of this are discussed. In view of this difficulty in accurately diagnosing primary bone tumours, all such tumours should be referred to Regional Bone Tumour Registries. Such Registries can provide valuable information about these uncommon tumours for clinical guidance, research and teaching.