Radiological Imaging of Primary Benign and Malignant Bone Tumours

Abstract

Primary bone tumours are much less common than metastatic tumour deposits in bones and multiple myeloma/plasmacytoma. In this chapter, we shall describe the salient clinical features and radiological characteristics of primary benign and malignant bone tumours. Radiology of bone tumours relies heavily on assessment of patient’s age, bones affected and distribution of tumour in the bone. With the knowledge of only these three features, the differential diagnosis of bone tumours can be significantly narrowed down. Plain radiographs help characterise the tumours, and in most cases, a reasonably accurate diagnosis can be made on assessment of these clinico-radiological features. Although CT and MR help to characterise these features more, their main importance lies in local extent of bone involvement and distant staging of the tumour, assessment of treatment planning, to act as a guide to biopsy and for follow-up. Whole-body bone scan and lately FDG PET scans have important roles to play in staging of malignant tumours.