Learn more about our appointment options and what to bring with you to your first appointment.
Aggressive Benign Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor Program
About the Aggressive Benign Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor Program
Aggressive benign bone and soft tissue tumors are a group of tumors that exhibit locally aggressive behavior but do not metastasize (spread) to distant sites like malignant tumors. This means they grow into surrounding tissues and can be locally destructive, but they don't spread to other organs like the lungs or liver.
While considered "benign" or not inherently harmful, their potential for local trauma to the affected area and recurrence makes their management complex. Since these tumors are not typically fatal in the same way as malignant tumors, survival rates are generally high. However, the rate of local recurrence can be significant depending on the specific tumor type, its location, and the treatment approach.
Why choose AHN?
At AHN, we are at the forefront of cancer care. AHN health care providers see each patient for the individual they are with specific needs. The rarity of specific aggressive benign bone and soft tissue tumors varies greatly, and we have the experience to create a treatment plan for you.
Our approach includes:
- Training and experience-backed decisions: Our caring multidisciplinary team works together to help guide your treatment of these rare types of tumors. We know which of these benign tumors have and do not have the ability to turn into cancer, which influences our decisions and treatment plans.
- Research backed: Our focus on keeping up with the newest cancer research means we often offer new medications to help with these rare diseases that you may not find at another local health care provider.
- Cutting-edge surgical care: We have capabilities that other health systems do not. We use highly sophisticated robotic surgical care and use of ablation (cryoablation) to treat these tumors.
Some types are relatively uncommon while others are more frequently seen. If you discover any unexplained lump, pain, or other unusual symptoms, see a health care professional promptly. Early diagnosis is crucial for all types of tumors, whether benign or malignant, to ensure appropriate and timely management.
-
Appointments
Orthopaedic OncologyScheduler
Benign bone tumors
These tumors are abnormal growths of cells that form within the bones.
- Osteochondroma: The most common type of benign bone tumor, often occurring in adolescents and young adults. It’s a cartilage-capped bony growth that sticks out from the bone surface, often near a growth plate.
- Giant cell tumor of bone: This tumor often affects the ends of long bones in young adults. It can be locally aggressive and has a tendency to recur after surgery.
- Aneurysmal bone cyst: This tumor is characterized by blood-filled spaces and typically affects children and young adults. While benign, it can grow rapidly and weaken the bone.
- Chondromyxoid fibroma: This rare tumor typically affects the bones of the foot and can be locally aggressive.
- Osteoid osteoma: A small, painful tumor that typically affects young adults and is most commonly found in the long bones of the legs.
Benign bone tumor symptoms
Benign bone tumors often don't cause any noticeable symptoms and might be discovered incidentally during an X-ray or other imaging tests done for unrelated reasons. However, depending on their size, location, and how fast they grow, they can cause problems.
Common symptoms include:
- Pain: This is one of the most frequent symptoms, especially for some types like osteoid osteomas. The pain may be worse at night, get worse with activity, and be relieved by over-the-counter pain relievers like ibuprofen.
- Swelling: You might notice a lump or swelling in the area of the tumor.
- Tenderness: The area around the tumor might feel tender or sore when touched.
- Weakened bone: In some cases, the tumor might weaken the bone, increasing the risk of a fracture.
- Limited movement: If the tumor is located near a joint, it can affect the range of motion in that joint.
Benign soft tissue tumors
Benign soft tissue tumors are noncancerous growths that develop in the soft tissues of the body. Soft tissues connect, support, or surround other structures and organs in the body. This includes the muscles, tendons, ligaments, fat, blood vessels, synovium (lining of joints), and nerves of your body.
Common types of soft tissue tumors include:
- Hemangioendothelioma: This tumor arises from blood vessels and can be locally aggressive, though it rarely spreads to distant sites.
- Desmoid-type fibromatosis: This tumor arises from connective tissue and can be very difficult to treat due to its tendency to infiltrate surrounding tissues and recur after surgery.
- Deep-seated lipomas (especially atypical lipomas): While most lipomas are slow-growing and harmless, deep-seated ones, particularly those with atypical features, can grow larger and invade surrounding structures.
- Neurofibromas (especially plexiform neurofibromas in NF1): Neurofibromas are tumors of nerve sheaths. While many are benign, plexiform neurofibromas (often seen in neurofibromatosis type 1) can be large, grow aggressively, and may transform into malignant tumors.
Benign soft tissue tumors symptoms
Benign soft tissue tumors, similar to bone tumors, often grow slowly and don’t always cause symptoms. When they do, the symptoms can be varied depending on the tumor's location, size, and how it presses on nearby nerves, blood vessels, muscles, or organs.
Common symptoms include:
- A noticeable lump: You might feel a lump or mass under your skin, which may or may not be movable.
- Pain: Pain might occur if the tumor presses on nerves or grows into nearby tissues, although many benign tumors are painless.
- Swelling: You might see or feel swelling in the area, even without a distinct lump.
- Numbness or tingling: Pressure on nerves from the tumor can lead to these sensations.
- Weakness: If the tumor affects a muscle or its nerve supply, you might experience weakness in the affected area.
- Limited range of motion: Depending on its location, the tumor may limit movement in nearby joints.
Treating bone and soft tissue tumors
Treatment options often mirror those used for malignant tumors and typically involve a multidisciplinary approach. In rare recurring cases, we may also use radiation therapy or immunotherapy, depending on your needs and treatment plan.
Surgery
The mainstay of treatment often involves surgically removing the tumor with a margin of healthy tissue to minimize recurrence risk. The extent of surgery depends on the tumor's size, location, and type.
Surgical options include:
- Curettage: Scooping out the tumor. This is often used for smaller, low-grade benign tumors.
- Wide excision: Removing the tumor and a margin of healthy tissue surrounding it.
- Marginal excision: Removing only the tumor.
- Limb-sparing surgery: Removing the tumor while preserving the limb, often with the use of bone grafts or prosthetics.
- Amputation: Less common now due to advancements in limb-sparing techniques, but removal of the affected limb may be an option.
Targeted therapy
These drugs target specific molecules involved in the growth and spread of tumor cells. They are becoming increasingly important in treating certain types of bone and soft tissue sarcomas.
Ablation
Ablation is a minimally invasive procedure that uses heat or another energy source — like extreme cold — to destroy tumor cells. It can be a good option for treating bone and soft tissue tumors since they do not metastasize (spread) to other areas of the body. Depending on your specific type of cancer, your doctor may want to pursue the following ablation techniques to destroy the tumor cells. These options may include:
- Radiofrequency ablation: Using high-frequency electrical current to heat the tumor, the radiofrequency delivers energy that kills the tumor cells. Radiofrequency ablation is oftentimes used for osteoid osteomas (benign bone tumors) and can be used for palliative treatment of painful bone metastases. It can also be used for treating some soft tissue tumors.
- Cryoablation: Cryoablation uses extreme cold to freeze and destroy tumor cells. A cryoprobe delivers a cryogenic substance (like liquid nitrogen or argon gas) to the tumor, forming an ice ball that destroys the tissue. Cryoablation can be used for both bone and soft tissue tumors. It is particularly useful for tumors near sensitive structures like nerves, as the freezing process can have an analgesic (pain-relieving) effect.
Bone and soft tissue cancer specialists
AHN bone and soft tissue cancer specialists have the training, expertise, and compassion to treat and guide you through your diagnosis. Using the latest technological advancements in treatments, AHN cancer specialists offer some of the region’s most comprehensive care. This, combined with a deep understanding of palliative care provides you with a greater level of attention.
Surgery
Orthopedic Oncology Surgeon
Orthopaedic Surgeon
Physician Assistant
Medical Oncology
Medical Oncologist
Physician Assistant
Radiation Oncology Leads
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiation Oncologist
Radiology
Radiologist
How to get care
To make an appointment you can:
- Call our scheduler: (412) 359-8614
- Schedule online
- Use MyChart and schedule with Dr. Lisa Ercolano to make an appointment
Please bring all relevant imaging on CD or through PowerShare with correlating reports for review by our team to your initial appointment.
Expect to meet the orthopaedic oncology team and get a brief overview of the treatment timeline. Your appointments may be overwhelming, so write down your questions and bring them with you to the office. Bring someone who can act as your support. These people can help you remember details discussed in the office and be there or you, if needed, throughout the appointment.
Clinical trials and research
AHN participates in clinical trials of therapies that are open for patients who qualify and wish to participate. Patients are screened for consideration with ongoing clinical trials at every stage of their treatment.
What is a clinical trial?
Clinical trials are studies that try to answer questions about new ways to treat cancer with medications, radiation, or surgical techniques. Previous trials have shown how new methods of treatment improve survival and quality of life and reduce the risk of issues returning. You participate in a clinical trial only if you volunteer to do so and meet criteria for inclusion in the study, and you can stop participating in a trial at any time.
Who can join a clinical trial?
The plan for the trial, called a protocol, explains what the trial will do and how the study will be done. Based on the questions the research is trying to answer, each clinical trial protocol outlines specific criteria necessary to be eligible to join the trial.
Common criteria for entering a trial are:
- Having a certain type of disease or stage of cancer.
- Having received a certain kind of therapy in the past.
- Being in a certain age group.
- Federal rules help ensure that clinical trials are run in an ethical manner, with your rights and safety protected. It’s to ensure that you’re not put at increased risk by participating in the trial, and that the results of the study are accurate and meaningful.
Currently active clinical trials
If you would like to participate in a clinical trial and help our innovative team discover groundbreaking cancer solutions, ask your doctor if you’re eligible to participate in one. Find currently active clinical trials that are open for participation.
Refer your patient to an AHN specialist
Referrals are sent to Allegheny Orthopaedic Associates (AOA), attention to Lisa Ercolano.
- All outside referrals can be faxed to (412) 359-4988. Referrals should include relevant office notes and imaging of concern.
- When the referral is received, we will call the patient directly to schedule an appointment.
- Providers can call our office to discuss a particular case or patient with a provider directly.
- We are able to fax or share information via EPIC EMR to share any information necessary to the patient’s primary doctor or an outside facility.
For more information about referring your patient to an AHN specialist, read the Independent Physician Referral FAQs.
Follow your patient's health care at AHN with EpicCare® Link™
After referring your patient to an AHN specialist, use the EpicCare Link platform to collaborate with their AHN specialist, view your patient's test results, treatment plan, and progress.
If you are new to EpicCare Link, or need to request your own EpicCare Link account, read: EpicCare Link for Patient Follow-up, for user instructions and new account request forms.
When EpicCare Link is not an option for patient's AHN medical records
If you can’t access your patient's AHN test results through the EpicCare Link platform, your patient will need to complete and submit the correct AHN Medical Records Release form, based on their state of residency. Support your patient’s request by downloading the correct medical records release form for them:
EpicCare® is a registered trademark of Epic Systems Corporation and used with permission.
EpicCare® Link™ is a trademark of Epic Systems Corporation and used with permission.