Musculoskeletal Neoplasms

usculoskeletal neoplasms are treated with surgical excision, radiation therapy, chemotherapy, and combination therapeutic approaches. This chapter will focus on orthopaedic approaches to treatment of neoplasms. Emphasis will be placed on the role of imaging in detection and classification and postoperative monitoring.

Preoperative Evaluation

Decisions regarding the approach to musculoskeletal neoplasms may be relatively simple in the case of a localized benign lesion or more complex. The therapeutic decisions may be more complex depending on the histology, location, bone and soft tissue involvement, and patient factors such as age, general health status, activity, and prognosis. Limb-saving procedures, often with extensive reconstruction, are usually considered when the lesion is located in a region that allows complete resection with wide surgical margin. This would require a 6-cm margin for bone and soft tissue sarcomas. Preoperative chemotherapy is often used preoperatively in conjunction with limb-saving procedures.

Limb-saving procedures are usually contraindicated in patients with neurovascular encasement, which would result in functional impairment in the extremity following resection, and in patients with significant pathologic fractures that may result in dissemination of tumor cells. Lower extremity procedures may compromise growth in an immature skeleton. However, new prosthetic designs and other surgical options do not totally exclude limb-saving procedures in children in whom the growth plate may be at risk. Additional considerations for limb-saving procedures include the risk of local recurrence, long-term survival, functional outcome compared to amputation, psychological benefit, and immediate and delayed morbidities of the surgical procedure.

Preoperative assessment includes multiple clinical and imaging factors. Enneking et al. developed a functional system for pre- and postoperative evaluation that scored 7 categories (0 to 5 points) for a total of 35 points. The categories included motion, pain, stability, deformity, strength, functional activity, and emotional acceptance.

Lesion identification may be accomplished with radiographs or other imaging modalities. Once identified, multiple approaches are used to identify the type of lesion and extent of involvement. This may be initiated with lesion biopsy, followed by additional imaging for staging if the lesion is malignant. Planning the biopsy requires close communication with the orthopaedic surgeon so that the needle path can be resected along with the tumor during the procedure. In addition, knowledge of the anatomic compartments is essential when planning bone or soft tissue biopsies (see Fig. 14-1). Inappropriate needle approaches can unnecessarily contaminate compartments that could interfere with the planned limb-saving procedure. Biopsies are most often performed using computed tomographic (CT) guidance, but ultrasonography or fluoroscopy can also be used to guide needle placement (see Fig. 14-2).

Tumor staging typically involves the lesion (T), grade (G), nodal involvement (N), and metastasis (M). Thorough and accurate staging requires the use of multiple imaging modalities. Multiple staging systems have been used. Enneking et al. proposed a staging system in 1980 that incorporated prognostic factors of local recurrence and metastasis, included surgical implications and provided guidelines for adjuvant therapy. Malignant bone lesions were staged based on grade, inter- and extraosseous extent, and whether there was associated metastasis. This system was later endorsed by the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) and the American Joint Committee on Cancer (AJCC). The MSTS staging system remains the most commonly used system (see Table 14-1).

Using the MSTS system, low-grade bone lesions are considered stage I and high-grade lesions stage II. Metastases are considered stage III regardless of the histology. The stages are subdivided based on local extent. Lesions confined to bone are substage A (intracompartmental). Lesions that extend through the cortex into the soft tissues are substage B (extracompartmental).

Fig. 14-1 Compartmental anatomy. A: Thigh divided into anterior (A), posterior (P), and medial compartments. The anterior compartment contains the quadriceps and sartorius muscles; the posterior compartment contains the semimembranosus, semitendinosus, and biceps group; and the medial compartment the adductors and gracilis muscles. B: The calf is divided into anterior (A), lateral (L), superficial posterior (SP), and deep posterior (DP) compartments. The anterior compartment contains the extensors hallucis longus and digitorum longus and the tibialis anterior. The lateral compartment contains the peroneus brevis and longus. The superficial posterior compartment contains the gastrocnemius and soleus and the deep posterior compartment the tibialis posterior, flexor hallucis longus, and flexor digitorum longus. C: The arm is divided into anterior (A) and posterior (P) compartments. The anterior compartment contains the biceps brachii and brachialis, and the posterior compartment the triceps. D: The forearm is divided into the volar (V), dorsal (D), and mobile wad (MW). The volar compartment contains the flexor muscle groups, pronator teres, and palmaris longus and the dorsal compartment the extensor muscle groups and abductor pollicis longus. The mobile wad contains the brachioradialis and extensor carpi radialis longus and brevis.

Fig. 14-2 Needle biopsy. Computed tomography (CT)-guided needle biopsies of the humerus (A) in a patient with lymphoma. The needle enters through the anterior compartment. CT-guided biopsy (B) of an iliac lesion entering posteromedially.

Imaging of primary skeletal or soft tissue lesions and potential metastasis requires multiple modalities to optimize staging. Over the years accuracy has greatly improved with the additions of CT, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and positron emission tomographic (PET) imaging. To assist the clinician, the radiologist must identify all of the following features so that they can be correlated with the staging system:

Imaging features for tumor staging

Tumor location and size (greatest diameter)
Intra- or extracompartmental
Soft tissue involvement
Joint involvement
Neurovascular displacement or encasement Skip lesions
Local and distant metastasis

Primary Skeletal Lesions

Radiographs or computed radiographic (CR) images are still useful for detection of benign and malignant skeletal lesions. Radiographic features are extremely useful for characterizing the aggressiveness of the lesion (see Fig. 14-3). In addition, CT is useful in patients with subtle lesions, soft tissue calcification, tumor matrix, and thin cortex (see Fig. 14-4). MRI with contrast is most useful for evaluation of local bone, soft tissue compartment, and neurovascular involvement. The bone and soft tissue anatomy for at least 6 cm about the lesion should be evaluated to assess the ability to perform and extent of resection for limb-saving procedures.

Fig. 14-3 Osteosarcoma. Anteroposterior (AP) (A) and lateral (B) radiographs of the distal femur demonstrating a mixed lytic and sclerotic lesion with periosteal reaction and a Codman triangle (arrow) on the lateral view. There is also a large posterior soft tissue mass (open arrows).

For skeletal lesions, the entire structure (i.e., entire femur and proximal and distal articulations) should be included on the image for operative planning and to exclude skip lesions (see Fig. 14-5). Images should be obtained in at least two planes using T1- and T2-weighted sequences. Additional imaging with short T1 inversion recovery (STIR) may be indicated in some cases. Post–contrast-enhanced (gadolinium) images are routinely obtained unless there is a history of allergy or renal compromise. The same approach should be used postoperatively to establish a baseline for patient follow-up (see Fig. 14-6).

Angiography may be necessary in some cases to define neovascularity and vascular displacement or encasement (see Fig. 14-7). Angiography can also be used preoperatively to deliver chemotherapy and embolize tumor vessels.

Soft Tissue Neoplasms

Radiographs demonstrate bone changes and soft tissue calcification. Fatty lesions may also be evident on radiographs. MRI is the technique of choice for detection and local staging of soft tissue lesions. Certain benign lesions such as lipomas, myxomas, hemangiomas, and cysts have characteristic appearances, which may obviate the need for biopsy or surgical intervention (see Fig. 14-8). Malignant or indeterminate lesions are evaluated using T1- and T2-weighted conventional or fast spin-echo sequences with or without fat suppression. Gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted images are also obtained. Two image planes are necessary to fully evaluate the extent, compartment, and neurovascular involvement (see Fig. 14-9). Dynamic gadolinium techniques may be of value for differentiating benign from malignant lesions. Angiography is not often performed, but can be used for indications noted earlier.

Metastasis

Radionuclide bone scans with technetium Tc 99m methylene-diphosphonate (MDP) have long been the standard for detection of skeletal metastasis. With a few exceptions (myeloma, aggressive lytic lesions) this technique is still useful (see Fig. 14-10). MRI can be used for axial skeleton screening with axial and sagittal spine images and coronal images of the pelvis and hips using T1-weighted and/or STIR images. PET, especially PET/CT, plays an important role in tumor staging (see Fig. 14-11).

Fig. 14-4 Chondrosarcoma. Axial computed tomographic (CT) images (A and B) demonstrating a lesion in the right acetabulum with matrix characteristic of chondrosarcoma and a pathologic fracture (arrow). The patient was treated with wide excision and reconstruction using a saddle prosthesis (C and D).

Fig. 14-5 Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging of skeletal neoplasm. A: A larger torso coil (T) and field of view is required to include the entire osseous structure. This allows operative planning and avoids overlooking skip lesions (arrow) more proximally. In most cases, a smaller knee coil (K) would be used to improve resolution. B: Distal femoral sarcoma demonstrated on a T1-weighted image. The entire femur is not included. At least 5 to 6 cm of normal tissue is required for limb-saving purposes (line).

Fig. 14-6 High-grade osteosarcoma. A: Radiograph demonstrates a destructive lesion in the upper humerus with periosteal reaction. B: Technetium Tc 99m methylene-diphosphonate (MDP) whole body bone scan demonstrates intense uptake in the proximal humerus with no distant metastasis. Coronal T1 (C) and short T1 inversion recovery (STIR) (D) images and axial T1-weighted (E), T2-weighted (F), and postcontrast (G) images clearly demonstrate the extent of the tumor. H: Specimen radiograph of the resected proximal humerus. I: The patient was treated with a long stem hemiarthroplasty component and proximal allograft with cortical bone graft at the allograft–humeral junction.

Treatment Options

Limb-saving procedures for bone lesions are indicated in the following circumstances:

Tumor in the axial skeleton or extremity
Margins amenable to surgical resection
Only moderate soft tissue extension
Neurovascular structures intact
Metastasis absent or can be resected
Patient in good general health

Fig. 14-7 A: Preoperative angiogram demonstrating neovascularity in a malignant tumor in the proximal femur. B: The proximal femur was resected and a custom bipolar prosthesis was inserted.

Fig. 14-8 Benign lipoma. Coronal T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) image of the proximal arm demonstrating the characteristic appearance of a benign lipoma with a few well-defined fibrous septae.

Contraindications include the following:

Neurovascular encasement
Surgery would lead to functional impairment
Significant pathologic fracture with tumor cell dissemination
Poorly placed biopsy incisions (relative contraindication)

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