Aplastic anemia is a disease when the bone marrow fails to work and as a result, the body has insufficient new blood cells. As the old blood cells die the bone marrow fails to produce new cells leaving the body vulnerable to infection and bleeding. This is a rare condition which may onset suddenly or gradually over a period of time. Symptoms of aplastic anemia include fatigue, skin rash, infections, irregular heartbeat and prone to bleeding. Identifiable causes are chemicals exposure, radiation, drugs, blood diseases like autoimmune disorders and some prescription drugs. Treatments for aplastic anemia may include blood transfusions, medication and bone marrow transplant for severe cases.
Bone neoplasm
Bone neoplasm refers to the abnormal growth of tissues in bone. This mass of growth is called tumor and they can either be benign (non-cancerous) or malignant (cancerous). Examples of benign bone tumors are Osteochondromas, enchondroma, fibrous dysplasia and aneurysmal bone cyst. There are several types of malignant bone tumors and examples of them are osteosarcoma, Ewing sarcoma and chondrosarcoma. The causes of these tumors are generally unknown though the risk factors associated with it are exposure to radiation, existing bone disorders like paget’s disease and genetic conditions.
Types of benign Bone tumors
Osteochondromas is a common type of bone cancer that affects people during their childhood and adolescent. Osteochondromas is the unusual growth that develops near the growth plate which is the most actively growing areas of the bones. Osteochondromas cancer usually occurs around the hip, shoulder or knee. In most cases, patients do not require any treatment as osteochondromas usually cease to grow once bone maturity is attained.
Enchondroma develops in the cartilage inside the bones and found in children continuing through adulthood. Enchondroma usually occurs in the hands, feet but can also be found on the thighbone, shinbone and upper arm bone.
Fibrous Dysplasia is a condition when abnormal fibrous tissue develops instead of normal bone. This is a gene mutation where the bones become fibrous and expand over time and is prone to fractures and deformity.
Aneurysmal bone cyst is a tumor-like bone lesion that develops in any of the bones and can weaken the bone structures.
Types of malignant bone tumors
Osteosarcoma is one of the common primary bone diseases mostly developing in children and teenagers. These types of tumors occur in the areas of knee, pelvis, upper arm and ribs. This usually develops in areas where the bones are actively growing. The fast growing tumor could spread to other parts of the body.
Ewing sarcoma usually develops in the bone cavities affecting adolescents and children as young as 5 years. The tumor affects the legs, pelvis, upper arm, ribs and skull.
Chondrosarcoma is a tumor made of cartilage producing cells. The age groups that are most affected is from 40 and 70. The areas that are prone to develop this tumor are hip, pelvis and shoulder.