Diagnostic guidelines and treatment of benigne bone tumors

The indications of surgical treatment of benigne bone tumours are strongly related to the clinical behaviour,the patient's complaints and the activity in Tc-bone scan. Some lesions - like the nonossifying fibroma - that can s afely be diagnosed by conventional x-rays may not be treated surgically as long as the patients are free of pain, and there is no risk of pathologic f racture. In case of clinically relevant lesions, activity in Tc-bone scan, or a risk of fracture, biopsy and curettage combined with autologous or hom ologous bone grafting is indicated. Some aggressive tumors, like the giant cell tumor, have to be treated more aggressively by curettage with adjuvant measures (Phenole) or by marginal excision.