Primary osseous tumours of the elbow: 60 years of registry experience

Abstract

The suspicion of a tumour should be raised in the patient with unremitting, unexplained, non-mechanical bony elbow pain. These echo the NICE recommendations and we recommend prompt specialist referral. With high rates of local recurrence, we recommend close postoperative monitoring.

Bone tumours around the elbow: a rare entity

“…However, in a large series of 75 patients FD was the most common (20% of cases) benign tumour encountered in the elbow. 2 It commonly presents in adolescents and young adults, and may be either monostotic (70% to 80% of cases) or polyostotic. 64,65 Most monostotic lesions are asymptomatic and are discovered when plain radiographs of the involved region are made for other reasons or because a pathological fracture has developed.…”

“…1 The literature regarding primary bone tumours of the elbow is sparse, with only two case series consisting of 75 patients and 25 patients respectively. 2,3 During recent decades advances in the diagnosis, management and prognosis of patients with bone tumours around the elbow have been made. Early diagnosis and preoperative planning is essential and can dramatically change the treatment and prognosis of these patients.…”

“…6 Even nowadays delay in diagnosis is common, usually because of the rarity of these lesions, the atypical clinical presentation and the low index of suspicion, with misdiagnosis incidence up to 13%. 2 Although these entities are rare, the treating physician must be aware of the possibility of a bone tumour in the elbow area. An algorithm for appropriate assessment of patients with a bone lesion is presented (Fig.…”

“…They usually affect the proximal ulna and radius. 2 The commonest benign tumours around the elbow joint are the osteoid osteoma, the giant cell tumour, the aneurysmal bone cyst and the fibrous dysplasia. Ewing sarcoma, osteosarcoma and chondrosarcoma of the elbow are the most common malignant tumours, and occur more frequently in older patients with the distal humerus more often affected.…”

“…3 In a recent case series, these rare tumours continue to have significant morbidity and mortality, with recurrences which resulted in further surgery in over a quarter of the patients with a benign lesion, while the five-year mortality for the high grade malignancies was 68%. 2 This article summarizes the current diagnosis and treatment of these tumours around the elbow and discusses some of the features that are unique to this anatomic area.…”