Yeditepe University Hospitals  Orthopedics and Traumatology Specialist answered the questions about biopsy for bone and soft tissue tumors.

Bone and soft tissue tumors arise from soft tissues such as muscle, nerve, fatty tissue, and vessels in our body and tissues such as bone, cartilage, and joints. Bone and soft tissue tumors can occur at any age, although they mostly occur in childhood and adulthood. If bone and soft tissue tumors, which manifest themselves in the form of palpable swelling in different parts of the body, are thought to be malignant, a biopsy is performed.

What is a Biopsy?

A biopsy is a process of taking a piece of a mass, which is thought to be suspicious for cancer, by open or closed methods. Usually, this procedure is performed closed with the help of a thin needle. The piece is taken with ultrasound, scopy, or tomography according to the location of the mass and the tissue it originates from and sent to the pathology department for evaluation.

In Which Situations and When Is a Biopsy Performed in Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors?

In cases where a mass in the body is suspected to be malignant, a biopsy is performed. In order to perform the biopsy procedure, the person should be evaluated in detail with the history, physical examination, and necessary radiological examinations. As a result of these evaluations, it is clarified whether a biopsy is necessary. If a biopsy is deemed necessary, detailed biopsy planning that is crucial to the process should be done, such as with which method and from which part of the mass the sample will be taken.

Why Is a Biopsy Important?

The actual diagnosis of the tumor is made as a result of the evaluation of a piece taken from a possible malignant tumor by biopsy. In other words, the name of the tumor is determined. This is a very important step that determines the next approach to the tumor. It is the first button of the shirt, so to speak. Therefore, a biopsy is very important.

Who Should Perform a Biopsy for Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors?

A biopsy is a very important procedure that directly affects the treatment and the results of the treatment and is subject to certain rules that must be strictly followed. Mistakes made at this stage can cause irreversible results. Therefore, the biopsy procedure should be performed by a physician experienced in orthopedic oncology who can perform the next surgery on the patient.

How Does the Process Proceed After the Biopsy Stage in Bone and Soft Tissue Tumors?

While some tumors are sensitive to chemotherapy and radiotherapy, others may be insensitive. After the diagnosis is clarified with biopsy, the treatment process begins by revealing the answers to very important questions for the patient, such as whether surgery or chemotherapy, and/or radiotherapy should be performed first, and which medications should be used in chemotherapy.