Knowledge Check

Exam-style MCQs aligned with these notes. Available to Hyperexcision Scholar members.

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Last updated: April 7, 2026Bookmark

Overview

Classification of bone tumors

ClassificationTumors
Primary Bone-forming (benign)Osteoma, osteoid osteoma, osteoblastoma
Primary Bone-forming (malignant)Osteogenic sarcoma (osteosarcoma)
Primary Cartilaginous (benign)Osteochondroma, chondroma, chondroblastoma (enchondroma)
Primary Cartilaginous (malignant)Chondrosarcoma
Primary FibrousNon-ossifying fibroma, ossifying fibroma, fibrous dysplasia, desmoplastic fibroma, malignant fibrous histiocytoma
Primary VascularHemangioendothelioma, hemangiopericytoma, angiosarcoma
OthersGiant cell tumor (osteoclastoma), bone cyst, Ewing sarcoma, adamantinoma, and chordoma

Most common bone tumors by age group

Age groupCommon tumors
PaediatricEwing sarcoma, osteogenic sarcoma (osteosarcoma)
AdultMetastasis to bone, multiple myeloma, lymphoma, sarcoma of soft tissue

Bone tumors by location

LocationTumors
SkullEosinophilic granuloma, metastasis, myeloma
MandibleAdamantinoma, dentogenic cyst
HumerusAll tumors, simple bone cysts
RibsMetastases, enchondroma, chondrosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma
SpineMetastases, myeloma, osteoblastoma, chordoma, hemangioma, aneurysmal bone cyst
PelvisOsteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, simple bone cyst, lymphoma, Ewing’s sarcoma, and chordoma
Distal radiusGiant cell tumor, eosinophilic granuloma
HandsEnchondroma
Proximal femurSimple bone cyst, fibrous dysplasia, enchondroma, Ewing sarcoma, eosinophilic granuloma
Around the kneeAll tumors, osteosarcoma, Ewing’s sarcoma
Tibia shaftNon-ossifying fibroma, fibrous dysplasia, adamantinoma, osteoid osteoma
CalcaneusSimple bone cyst, Ewing’s sarcoma, osteoblastoma, chondroblastoma
  • Warning signs for bone tumors
    • Unremitting bone or joint pain (especially pain that wakes the patient from sleep)
    • Rapid progression of bone or joint pain, growth, or swelling
    • Constitutional symptoms: fever, chills, shortness of breath, night sweats, and weight loss
    • Multiple areas of involvement
  • Approach to imaging
    • Which bone is affected?
      • Different locations have different tumors
    • Is the patient skeletally mature or immature?
      • Has the epiphysis and metaphysis fused?
    • Where is the lesion located?
      • At the epiphysis, metaphysis, or diaphysis?
      • Central or eccentric?
      • Cortical or medullary?
    • What are the margins?
      • Well-defined or poorly defined
    • What is the zone of transition?
      • Geographic zone of transition = well-circumscribed with or without a sclerotic border
      • Moth-eaten zone of transition = poorly-defined (difficult to determine where the lesion begins and normal bone ends)
      • Permeative zone of transition = barely perceptible
    • What matrix is present?
      • Ground-glass appearance (immature woven bone)
      • Osteoid (bone-like, appears as clouds)
      • Chondroid (cartilage-like, appears as rings and arcs)
    • What is the periosteal reaction?
      • Onion skin (multi-layered)
      • Codman’s triangle
      • Hair-on end (spicullated)
      • Sunburst
    • Is there soft tissue involvement?
    • Is the lesion solitary, or are there multiple lesions?
      • Multiple tumors occur in metastases and fibrous dysplasia
Periosteal reactions

MSTS (Enneking) Tumor Staging

Enneking tumor staging involves tumor grade, local spread (intra- or extracompartmental), and metastatic spread

StageGradeSiteMetastasis
IALow gradeT1 – intracompartmentalM0
IBLow gradeT2 – extracompartmentalM0
IIAHigh gradeT1 – intracompartmentalM0
IIBHigh gradeT2 – extracompartmentalM0
IIIMetastaticT1 or T2 intracompartmental or extracompartmentalM1
Enneking Staging
Reference Intervals ›
Biochemistry
ACTHP: <80 ng/L
ALTP: 5–35 U/L
AlbuminP: 35–50 g/L
AldosteroneP: 100–500 pmol/L
Alk. phosphataseP: 30–130 U/L
α-AmylaseP: 0–180 IU/dL
α-FetoproteinS: <10 kU/L
Angiotensin IIP: 5–35 pmol/L
ADHP: 0.9–4.6 pmol/L
ASTP: 5–35 U/L
BicarbonateP: 24–30 mmol/L
BilirubinP: 3–17 μmol/L
BNPP: <50 ng/L
CRPP: <10 mg/L
CalcitoninP: <0.1 mcg/L
Calcium (ionized)P: 1.0–1.25 mmol/L
Calcium (total)P: 2.12–2.60 mmol/L
ChlorideP: 95–105 mmol/L
CholesterolP: <5.0 mmol/L
VLDLP: 0.128–0.645 mmol/L
LDLP: <2.0 mmol/L
HDLP: 0.9–1.93 mmol/L
Cortisol AMP: 450–700 nmol/L
Cortisol MidnightP: 80–280 nmol/L
CK ♂P: 25–195 U/L
CK ♀P: 25–170 U/L
CreatinineP: 70–100 μmol/L
FerritinP: 12–200 mcg/L
FolateS: 2.1 mcg/L
FSHP: 2–8 U/L ♂; >25 menopause
GGT ♂P: 11–51 U/L
GGT ♀P: 7–33 U/L
Glucose (fasting)P: 3.5–5.5 mmol/L
Growth hormoneP: <20 mu/L
HbA1C (DCCT)B: 4–6%
HbA1C (IFCC)B: 20–42 mmol/mol
Iron ♂S: 14–31 μmol/L
Iron ♀S: 11–30 μmol/L
Lactate (venous)P: 0.6–2.4 mmol/L
Lactate (arterial)P: 0.6–1.8 mmol/L
LDHP: 70–250 U/L
LHP: 3–16 U/L
MagnesiumP: 0.75–1.05 mmol/L
OsmolalityP: 278–305 mosmol/kg
PTHP: 0.8–8.5 pmol/L
PotassiumP: 3.5–5.3 mmol/L
Prolactin ♂P: <450 U/L
Prolactin ♀P: <600 U/L
PSAP: 0–4 mcg/mL
Protein (total)P: 60–80 g/L
Red cell folateB: 0.36–1.44 μmol/L
Renin (erect)P: 2.8–4.5 pmol/mL/h
Renin (recumbent)P: 1.1–2.7 pmol/mL/h
SodiumP: 135–145 mmol/L
TBGP: 7–17 mg/L
TSHP: 0.5–4.2 mU/L
T4P: 70–140 nmol/L
Free T4P: 9–22 pmol/L
TIBCS: 54–75 μmol/L
TriglyceridesP: 0.50–2.3 mmol/L
T3P: 1.2–3.0 nmol/L
Troponin TP: <0.1 mcg/L
Urate ♂P: 210–480 μmol/L
Urate ♀P: 150–390 μmol/L
UreaP: 2.5–6.7 mmol/L
Vitamin B12S: 0.13–0.68 nmol/L
Vitamin DS: 50 nmol/L
Arterial Blood Gases
pH7.35–7.45
PaCO₂4.7–6.0 kPa
PaO₂>10.6 kPa
Base excess±2 mmol/L
Urine
Cortisol (free)<280 nmol/24h
Hydroxyindole acetic acid16–73 μmol/24h
Hydroxymethylmandelic acid16–48 μmol/24h
Metanephrines0.03–0.69 μmol/mmol cr.
Osmolality350–1000 mosmol/kg
17-Oxogenic steroids ♂28–30 μmol/24h
17-Oxogenic steroids ♀21–66 μmol/24h
17-Oxosteroids ♂17–76 μmol/24h
17-Oxosteroids ♀14–59 μmol/24h
Phosphate (inorganic)15–50 mmol/24h
Potassium14–120 mmol/24h
Protein<150 mg/24h
Protein/creatinine ratio<3 mg/mmol
Sodium100–250 mmol/24h
Haematology
WCC4.0–11.0 ×10⁹/L
RBC ♂4.5–6.5 ×10¹²/L
RBC ♀3.9–5.6 ×10¹²/L
Hb ♂130–180 g/L
Hb ♀115–160 g/L
PCV ♂0.4–0.54 L/L
PCV ♀0.37–0.47 L/L
MCV76–96 fL
MCH27–32 pg
MCHC300–360 g/L
RDW11.6–14.6%
Neutrophils2.0–7.5 ×10⁹/L (40–75%)
Lymphocytes1.0–4.5 ×10⁹/L (20–45%)
Eosinophils0.04–0.44 ×10⁹/L (1–6%)
Basophils0–0.10 ×10⁹/L (0–1%)
Monocytes0.2–0.8 ×10⁹/L (2–10%)
Platelets150–400 ×10⁹/L
Reticulocytes0.8–2.0% / 25–100 ×10⁹/L
Prothrombin time10–14 s
APTT35–45 s
Paediatric
Pulse Rate (bpm)
Neonate140–160
Infant <1yr120–140
1–5 years110–130
5–12 years80–120
>12 years70–100
Respiratory Rate (tachypnoea)
0–2 months≥60/min
2–12 months≥50/min
1–5 years≥40/min
>5 years≥30/min
Blood Pressure (mmHg)
Term65/45
1 year75/50
4 years85/60
8 years95/65
10 years100/70
Weight Formulas
3–12 months(a + 9)/2 kg
1–6 years2a + 8 kg
>6 years(7a − 5)/2 kg
Haemoglobin (g/dL)
Term newborn13–20
1 month11–18
2 months10–15
1–2 years10–13
>2 years11–14
MUAC (6 months–5 years)
Obese>17.5 cm
Normal13.5–17.4 cm
At risk12.5–13.4 cm
Moderate malnutrition11.5–12.4 cm
Severe malnutrition<11.5 cm
Developmental Milestones
Social smile1.5 months
Head control4 months
Sits unsupported7 months
Crawls10 months
Stands unsupported10–12 months
Walks12–13 months
Talks18 months
CSF WBC (/mm³)
Term newborn0–25
>2 weeks0–5
Calculator ›

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