Initial Symptoms of Bone Tumors
The size, color, and firmness of protrusions on the foot vary depending on their origin.
A person feeling a mass on their foot may notice the following symptoms:
- Sensation of pain or discomfort
- Stiffness in the foot
- Thickening and swelling of certain parts of the skin or nodules
- Inflammation or redness
- Difficulty fitting into tight shoes
- Difficulty walking.
Early Signs of Bone Tumors
Patients suffering from bone tumors often visit an orthopedic specialist due to severe pain. In rare cases, patients may not feel pain and consult a doctor due to the prominence in the tumor area.
Dr. Farshad Abolghasemzadeh, an orthopedic specialist and surgeon of various bone and muscle tumors, has previously pointed out that among tumors that occur in individuals over the age of fifty, the most common types are sarcomas, which lack pain indicators and are only visible as abnormal masses. A notable point about bone tumors is that they mostly occur in the thigh and lower limb bones. In the case of affliction in older ages, the possibility of metastasis is high.
Types of Benign Primary Bone Tumors
Bone tumors often have various types, some of which are discussed below:
- Simple Bone Cyst:
This is essentially a cyst or cavity filled with yellowish-clear fluid and classified under benign bone lesions. The active type is located near the epiphyseal plate and grows until it fills the entire diaphysis. It can lead to pathological fractures of the bone or damage to the epiphysis and shortening of the bone. While its latent type is located away from the epiphysis and responds better to treatment. It mainly affects long bones, especially the upper ends of the thigh and arm bones, and most often involves children between the ages of 4 and 10.
Clinical Signs of Simple Bone Cysts
They are often asymptomatic, but sometimes there is mild pain and discomfort, and they are usually incidentally diagnosed on radiographs, mostly seen in children and adolescents.
Tumor of the Heel Bone (Calcaneus)
The heel bone, the largest bone among the 26 bones in the human foot, features 33 joints and a network of over 100 tendons, muscles, and ligaments. Like all bones, it is susceptible to external influences that can impact its integrity and ability to support our weight on our feet. Heel pain, which can be disabling, may occur at the front, back, or bottom of the heel.
Early treatment may involve oral or injectable anti-inflammatory medications, recommendations regarding exercise and footwear, strapping or taping, or the use of orthotic shoe inserts. Taping or strapping supports the heel, placing muscles and tendons under physiological rest. Physical therapy may accompany these treatments.
Tumor of the Shin Bone (Tibia)
If a person’s shin receives injury, it may become swollen and temporarily inflamed. However, there’s no clear indication for the cause of such prominences and masses on the shin bone. Yet, some of these protrusions may indicate other conditions and diseases.
Some potential reasons for masses on the shin include:
- Lymphatic cysts
- Bone protrusions
- Bowing of the tibia
- Synovial cysts
- Gout
- Lipoma
- In rare cases, cancer.
Tumor of the Thigh Bone (Femur)
When tissue-forming cells undergo growth and successive abnormal divisions due to changes in their natural structure, tissue masses called tumors form. Tumors occur in various tissue types, and when these masses form in bone tissue, they are called bone tumors.
Types of Thigh Bone Tumors
Bone tumors are categorized into two types: malignant and benign tumors, based on the tissue they affect. As their names suggest, the likelihood of death due to benign tumors is relatively lower. The clear difference lies in the fact that malignant tumors travel through blood or lymphatic vessels to different parts of the body, affecting other tissues. This phenomenon is known as metastasis.