Musculoskeletal oncology is a sub-specialty of orthopedic oncology, and it involves the diagnosis of bone cancer, diagnosis and treatment of benign and malignant tumors, as well as other pathologically abnormal lesions of the musculoskeletal system in adults and children.
Bone and soft tissue cancers comprise of around 0.2% of all cancers and are relatively rare. The most common cancers in this subset are osteosarcoma (OGS), chondrosarcoma, and Ewing sarcoma. Bone and soft tissue cancer treatment as well as management requires a multidisciplinary approach with a combined involvement of an orthopedist, pediatric and adult medical oncologists, general surgeons, plastic and hand surgeons, radiologists, radiation oncologists and musculoskeletal pathologist.
Musculoskeletal Oncology specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of cancer affecting bones, muscles and related soft tissues or musculoskeletal tumors in children and adults and thus plays an important role for a better treatment outcome.