Orthopedic Oncology
Care Close to Home
Orthopedic, or musculoskeletal, oncology is focused on the care of patients with bone and soft tissue tumors. These tumors can affect people of all ages. Cancers of the musculoskeletal system are called sarcomas. These sarcomas can arise from bone or soft tissue.
Musculoskeletal oncology also involves the care of non-cancerous (benign) bone and soft tissue masses. Many of these lesions can be diagnosed by imaging procedures alone and simply observed. Others require medical procedures for definitive diagnosis or relief of symptoms.
Care in the Capital Region
Orthopedic oncology care is offered at Albany Medical Center and our partners at the Bone & Joint Center and New York Hematology Oncology (NYOH). Pediatric care is offered through the Melodies Center at Albany Medical Center.
All locations and physicians can be found in the Get Care section of this page.
Malignant bone tumors
- Osteosarcoma
- Ewing's sarcoma
- Chondrosarcoma
- Metastatic bone disease (Carcinomas)
- Multiple myeloma
- Lymphoma
Benign bone tumors
- Bone forming tumors
- Cartilage forming tumors
- Fibrous tumors
- Cystic tumors
- Unknown and tumor simulators
Soft tissue sarcomas
- Liposarcoma
- Undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (MFH)
- Synovial sarcoma
- Rhadbomyosarcoma
- Leiomyosarcoma
Benign soft tissue masses
- Lipomas
- Hemangiomas
- Ganglions
- Nerve sheath tumors
As full-service providers in an academic health system, we treat the full range of conditions, including those not listed here. Contact us using the Get Care section of this page to find out more.
We consider different characteristics of a tumor when deciding which surgical technique will produce the best results. Types of tumors we treat and surgical techniques we perform include:
Malignant primary bone tumors
The goal in surgically treating a malignant primary bone tumor is wide resection of the tumor. The tumor is removed with some normal tissue covering the entire mass. In many cases, the limb being operated on can be salvaged. With many limb salvage procedures there is a large skeletal detect that requires reconstruction once the tumor is removed. Different techniques are used in order to maintain extremity function and match the patient's goals with the reconstruction option.
Benign bone tumors
High speed burr and curettage techniques are used for benign bone tumor removal. For aggressive benign bone lesions, we utilize the argon beam coagulator as the preferred local treatment adjuvant. We fill large bone voids with bone grafts and bone graft substitutes. Auto-grafting is avoided unless there is no better alternative. We use Image-guided radiofrequency ablation (RFA) for osteoid osteomas, selected chondroblastomas, and in selected cases of metastatic bone disease.
Soft tissue tumors
During lengthy procedures that involve substantial exposures, the Aquamantys device is used to control blood loss and to seal tissue fields. This technology uses a combination of radiofrequency and saline to efficiently control intra-operative bleeding. Soft tissue tumors can also be treated with the use of brachytherapy radiation catheters when indicated Markers are placed at areas of high risk for recurrence for Intensity Modulated Radiation Therapy (IMRT) localization post-operatively.
In addition to surgery, treatment for malignant sarcomas can include chemotherapy, radiation, targeted therapy, and immunotherapy. All of these treatments are available at the Albany Med Health System.
Sarcoma Strong
We participate in the annual Sarcoma Strong Run and Walk 5k to show solidarity and support for local sarcoma patients and their families. We support sarcoma discoveries and advancement in diagnosis and treatment through funding research.
