Health encyclopaedia

Health encyclopaedia - Alphabetical Topic List

Diagnosis of Cancer of the bone

By feeling the warm, painful swelling in the bone, your GP can sometimes make an initial diagnosis of primary bone cancer, and you will be referred to a consultant for further tests.

Depending on the type of bone cancer, an X-ray of the affected area will show unusual bone. This may be a hole or holes in the bone, edges that are ragged rather than smooth, or a lump growing out from the bone. Sometimes a small amount of radioactive material is injected into your veins. This is absorbed more by abnormal bone than normal bone, so that when an X-ray is done, the abnormal areas show up more clearly. This type of bone scan is helpful for finding out if the cancer has spread to other bones.

A computerised tomography (CT) scan or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan can be used to get a more detailed picture of the tumour, and to see if the cancer has spread to other organs.

A tiny sample of the tumour tissue (a biopsy) can be done using a needle. The cells can be examined under a microscope to check that the tumour is cancerous, and if so, what type of cancer is involved. If a needle biopsy does not give accurate results or is not possible in a particular part of the body, an open biopsy may be performed. This involves a minor operation to remove a small piece of bone.

• Caesarean sectionCancerCancer of the bile ductCancer of the bladderCancer of the boneCancer of the brainCancer of the breastCancer of the breast, maleCancer of the cervixCancer of the colon, rectum or bowelCancer of the kidneyCancer of the larynxCancer of the liverCancer of the lungCancer of the mouthCancer of the oesophagusCancer of the ovaryCancer of the pancreasCancer of the prostateCancer of the skinCancer of the stomachCancer of the testicleCancer of the thyroidCancer of the uterusCancer of the vaginaCancer of the vulvaCarbon monoxide poisoningCarersCarpal tunnel syndromeCartilage damageCataract surgeryCataractsCatarrhCavernous sinus thrombosisCEA testCellulitisCerebral palsyCerebrovascular diseaseCervical screening testCervical spondylosisCharcot-Marie-Tooth diseaseChemotherapyChest infectionChickenpoxChildren in careChiropracticChlamydiaChloride testCholesterolChorionic Villus samplingChronic fatigue syndromeChronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseCircumcisionCirrhosisCleft lip and palateClinical trialsClub footCoeliac diseaseCognitive behavioural therapyCold soreCold, commonColicColostomyColour vision deficiencyColposcopyCombined contraceptive pillComplaints about NHS servicesComplementary therapiesComplex Regional Pain SyndromeCondoms (male and female)Congenital heart diseaseCongestive heart failureConjunctivitisConsent to treatmentConstipationContraceptionContraceptive implants and injectionsContraceptive patchCoronary angioplastyCoronary artery bypassCoronary heart diseaseCorticosteroid (drugs)Corticosteroid preparations (topical)Cosmetic surgeryCoughCounsellingCradle capCraniosynostosisCreutzfeldt-Jakob diseaseCrohn's diseaseCroupCT scanCushing's syndromeCuts and grazesCystic fibrosisCystitisCystoscopyCytomegalovirus

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