Bone Tumor Care for Children

Bone and soft tissue tumors can be scary for children (and their parents), which is why selecting the right bone tumor team for your children is crucial. The University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital has a comprehensive team of pediatric specialists that collaborate together to provide unparalleled treatment for any and all bone and soft tissue tumors, including benign (non cancerous) and malignant (cancerous) conditions. Our team includes orthopaedic surgeons, oncologists, radiation oncology, radiology and more to accurately diagnose your child’s condition and create a customized plan.

Pediatric Bone Tumor Conditions We Treat

Bone Cyst

Bone cysts, a cavity in the bone, are not limited to specific bones in the body, but do frequently occur in the upper arm bone and leg bones. Cysts often develop near a growth plate and may enlarge as a child grows. Very often, children will not have any symptoms from isolated bone cysts. Untreated cysts can potentially weaken the bone and lead to fractures. Taking your child to our skilled pediatric orthopaedic surgery team as soon as a bone cyst is diagnosed can allow us to develop an appropriate treatment plan and avoid fractures.

Chondrosarcoma

Ewing’s Sarcoma

Ewing sarcoma is a tumor that primarily occurs in bones and soft tissues. As the second most common tumor in children, it can either affect long bones such as the femur (thigh), tibia (shin) or humerus (upper arm), or flat bones like the ribs, pelvis or spine. It also can involve the soft tissues around the tumor site.

Comer Children’s has a multidisciplinary team of experts with the experience and advanced resources to diagnose, analyze and treat Ewing and other bone sarcomas. We will explain what therapies will work best for your child’s individual condition and stage to provide the best success. Learn more about our expert treatment for Ewing’s sarcoma.

Fibrosarcoma

Fibrous Dysplasia

Non-Ossifying Fibroma

Similar to osteochrondroma, a non-ossifying fibroma is a benign (noncancerous), slow-growing tumor that usually appears in leg bones, particularly the femur (thigh bone) and the humerus (shin bone). Like other bone tumors, a large non-ossifying fibroma can weaken the bone and increase the risk of fractures. Though many will not need treatment, if your child’s bone structure has been damaged because of the tumor, our team can treat the condition and provide essential strength to the bone.

Osteochondroma

Osteochrondroma is a common, benign pediatric bone tumor. This noncancerous tumor is often found as a hard mass that develops outside the bone, very often around the knee joint. Osteochondromas can continue to grow while a child is still growing and can become painful.

Typically, surgical treatment is only necessary if the tumor is causing an impact on your child’s daily life and activities or if it is pressing on critical nerves and vessels. If it would be beneficial for the child to have surgical intervention for a better quality of life, our team will remove the tumor.

Osteoid Osteoma

Osteoid osteoma is a benign (non-cancerous) tumor that is often found in the large bones of the leg, like the femur (thigh) or tibia (shin bone). Osteoid osteomas can cause leg pain, limping, loss of muscle and/or bone deformities. Though many tumors can gradually get better on their own, for those that worsen, our pediatric orthopaedic specialists can provide treatment that will address the tumor.

Osteosarcoma

Osteosarcoma, also known as osteogenic sarcoma, is the most common type of pediatric bone tumor. These tumors are typically found near the growth plates around the knee, arms, legs and pelvis. Osteosarcomas are often malignant, meaning they are cancerous and can spread to other parts of the body.

A child experiencing pain, swelling, redness and decreased movement can be a sign of a bone tumor. Our team can diagnose your child’s tumor and identify the location and severity. Together, we will decide what treatment(s) will work for your children, including:

Chemotherapy
Radiation
Surgery
Physical Therapy

Learn more about the causes, risks and treatments available.

Rhabdomyosarcoma

Rhabdomyosarcoma is a type of cancer that most often begins in the soft tissues of the body, including tendons, muscles, nerves, fatty tissue and fibrous tissue, and is the most common sarcoma emerging from soft tissues. Accurate diagnosis and staging, and most importantly, prompt, carefully orchestrated therapy are particularly critical when treating rhabdomyosarcoma. Read more about our treatment options.

Synovial Cell Sarcoma

Synovial cell sarcoma is a rare, but malignant (cancerous), tumor that develops in soft tissues (synovial tissues), particularly around joints. The most common sign of the tumor is a painful, deep bump or lump. Our comprehensive team can diagnose your child’s tumor and determine the best course of action. Treatment might include:

Chemotherapy
Radiation
Surgery
Physical Therapy

Conditions We Treat

Acute and Chronic Conditions Bone Tumor Care Foot and Ankle Care Hand and Wrist Care Hip Care Knee and Gait Care Spine Care Sports Medicine Meet Our Team