Primary Malignant Tumors of Bone

Primary malignant tumors of bone are rare and account for <0.2% of all cancers. The American Cancer Society estimates that for the year 2014, approximately 3020 new cases of primary cancer of bones and joints will be diagnosed in the United States resulting in about 1460 deaths. In comparison, the 2014 estimates for new cancer cases involving more commonly affected sites are: prostate 233,000; breast (women) 232,670, and lung 224,210 (Source: American Cancer Society, Surveillance Research, 2014; www.cancer.org). As shown in the charts, bone cancer is a disease of young age with a male predominance. Slide courtesy of Piero Picci, M.D., Director, Laboratory of Experimental Oncology, Instituto Ortopedico Rizzoli, Bologna, Italy. Used with permission.