Bone Cancer Overview - OmniMedicalSearch.com

Conditions & Diseases: Cancers

Bone Cancer

Overview

Bone cancer, also known as primary bone cancer, is a form of cancer that develops in hard bone tissues and sometimes in the cartilage tissues of the bone. Primary bone cancer is rare, and differs from cancers that develop in: 1). other organs of the body and spread to the bones when metastasis (spreads), or 2). bone marrow cells (such as leukemia, multiple myeloma, and lymphoma).

Primary bone cancer can develop in any bone of the body, but it is more commonly diagnosed in the long bones of the arms and legs. It can occur at any age, but is more common in children and young adults. Left untreated, bone cancer can spread (metastasis) to other body organs or bones.

The human body consists 206 bones. All the bones together with their cartilage and ligaments form a supporting framework for the body. Each mature bone contains:

A). Three layers of tissue:

Compact tissue (called periosteum) - The outer, hard part of the bones formed from a fibrous tissue called matrix that deposits calcium salts.
Cancellous tissue - The inner, spongy tissue that contains the bone marrow.
Subchondral tissue - The smooth bone tissue on the joints.

and B). Two types of cells:

Osteoblast - The cells that form the bone tissue.
Osteoclast - The cells that dissolve the bone tissue.

The bone marrow, A-2, contains a mixture of fat cells, blood-forming cells (that produce red and white blood cells, and blood platelets), plasma cells, fibroblasts, and reticuloendothelial cells.

The cartilage is a softer bone-like tissue (a mixture of fibrous matrix tissue and gel-like substances) that covers the subchondral tissue, A-3, of each bone. The cartilage works as a cushion for the movement of the joints.

Article by Alina Morrow, MS
Medical Writer
OmniMedicalSearch.com