The USC Center for Orthopaedic Oncology brings together a broad range of subspecialists to offer patients comprehensive diagnostic and treatment services.

Musculoskeletal Tumors: Complex and Rare

Because of their rarity and complexity, musculoskeletal tumors pose particularly difficult challenges to diagnose and treat, and in most cases require a multi-disciplinary approach. As a result, most patients with musculoskeletal tumors are more efficiently evaluated and managed at a center with an active orthopaedic oncology service such as ours.

Diagnosis

The USC Orthopaedic Oncology Team includes a musculoskeletal pathologist who specializes in the diagnosis of both soft tissue and bone tumors. The Center can perform all necessary tests.

The team reviews each case at a weekly conference and formulates a comprehensive treatment plan once the patient has been accurately diagnosed and the stage of the tumor determined.

Treatment

Malignant bone tumors are usually treated with a combination of pre-operative chemotherapy, surgery and postoperative chemotherapy. Malignant soft tissue tumors are in most cases treated with a combination of chemotherapy, radiation therapy, and surgery. Some patients are also treated with cryosurgery (using extreme cold to destroy cancer cells).

Follow-up Care

The Orthopaedic Oncology Center provides comprehensive, appropriate follow-up care including rehabilitation and detection and comprehensive treatment of tumor recurrence.