Bone tumors are the third most common form of tumor spread outside of the primary cancer.  Some tumors (e.g. multiple myeloma) are primary to bone.  These tumors destroy the bone causing defects in the bone.  The tumor and the small fractures associated with the destruction can be extremely painful.  While not life threatening, these lesions often have a profound effect on the quality of life of the individual and can severely limit the patient either due to the pain or the side-effects of the high doses of narcotics required to manage the pain.  We offer a combination of approaches to this problem to alleviate the pain and improve quality of life.  This procedure is only curative in certain benign lesions.  The goal in cancer treatment is purely palliative.

For larger lesions involving the pelvis or long bones, we usually start with either cryoablation or radiofrequency ablation to debulk as much tumor as possible.  This is usually followed with injection of methyl methacrylate which will add to the cancer-killing effect from heating as the cement cures and will help stabilize the bone fracture.  For smaller lesions we may consider a simpler approach called osteoplasty that involves direct injection of methyl methacrylate into the lesion under x-ray guidance.  When the tumor involves the vertebrae, vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty are used.

These procedures usually result in a dramatic reduction in pain and a substantial improvement in quality of life.  The risks associated with these procedures are small and far outweighed by the benefits.