The Orthopedic Oncology Department at Mount Clemens Regional Medical Center (MCRMC) specializes in the treatment of bone and soft-tissue tumors. These tumors include Ewing's sarcoma, osteosarcoma, malignancies that involve the musculoskeletal system and metastatic tumors that spread to bone from other cancerous organs.

Mount Clemens Regional Medical Center's team of specialists can provide comprehensive evaluation and treatment of patients with musculoskeletal tumors.

Medical Oncology
A medical oncologist is a physician who specializes in diagnosing and treating cancer using chemotherapy, hormonal therapy, and biological therapy.

Diagnostic Radiology
A radiologist is a physician specially trained in diagnostic use of x-rays, radiation physics, and biology. These physicians are specially trained in diagnosing diseases by interpreting x-rays and other types of imaging studies. Two examples are computerized axial tomography (CAT or CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI).

Radiation Oncology
A radiation oncologist is a physician specialist who prescribes, administers, and monitors radiation treatment including external beam radiation, high-dose rate (HDR therapy) and low dose rate brachytherapy.

Orthopedic Oncology
An orthopedic oncologist is an orthopedic surgeon who has special training and specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of bone and soft-tissue tumors. These tumors include chondrosarcoma, Ewing's sarcoma, osteosarcoma and other benign or malignant tumors that involve the musculoskeletal system.

Pathology
A pathologist is a doctor who specializes in the diagnosis and classification of diseases by laboratory tests such as examination of tissue and cells under a microscope. The pathologist determines whether a tumor is benign or cancerous, and, if cancerous, the exact cell type and grade.

Diseases and Treatments

Orthopedic Oncologists at MCRMC work as part of an integrated team to provide quality, coordinated care for patients with tumors of the bone or soft tissues. The overall treatment objective is to completely remove the tumor and to kill any tumor cells that may have spread to other locations. This is achieved with a combination of surgery, chemotherapy and radiotherapy.

Benign Bone Tumors
Benign bone tumors do not generally metastasize or spread to other areas. Many benign tumors are developmental abnormalities that do not require treatment. Others can be very aggressive and destroy bone quickly.

Malignant Bone Tumors
Malignant bone tumors require treatment. Successful treatment is more likely if these tumors are diagnosed and treated early.

• Chondrosarcoma
• Ewing's sarcoma
• Osteosarcoma (osteogenic sarcoma)

Soft Tissue Sarcomas
Soft tissue sarcomas are very rare. Soft tissue sarcomas develop from soft tissue, such as muscle or fat, rather than bone. Most occur in the extremities or pelvis. There are many types of soft tissue sarcomas, but most are treated in the same way. Soft tissue sarcomas include:

• Fibrosarcoma
• Liposarcoma
• Malignant fibrous histiocytoma
• Rhabdomyosarcoma
• Synovial sarcoma

Treatment

Chemotherapy is used to treat bone and soft tissue cancer by intravenous or oral route.

Primary chemotherapy - given before surgery to reduce the size of the tumor that allows the tumor to be more easily removed.

Adjuvant chemotherapy - used after surgery to destroy any cancer cells that remain or may have spread to other parts of the body.

Radiotherapy - high-energy X-rays to shrink or destroy malignant tumor cells.

Cancer affecting the bone usually requires surgery, but not necessarily amputation. Limb salvage surgery tries to remove the primary cancer completely. A second goal is to minimize the impact of surgery on the function and appearance of the affected part of the body.

Patients who undergo surgery receive a thorough evaluation by an anesthesiologist. If a patient will benefit from chemotherapy or radiation in addition to surgery, medical oncologists work with the surgeon to coordinate the most appropriate preoperative and postoperative therapy.

Outpatient surgeries are performed at Mount Clemens Regional Medical Center. Specialized radiation technologies and brachytherapy are available if appropriate. Critical care services, medical sub specialists and ancillary support for postoperative care are available to patients undergoing complex surgical resection and reconstruction.