Tumors and Tumorlike Lesions

Abstract

Bone sarcomas are uncommon when compared with other malignancies, accounting for only 0.2% of all tumors (Dorfman and Czerniak 1995). Their incidence is approximately one-tenth that of soft tissue sarcomas (Mack 1995) and one-sixtieth that of either lung or breast carcinoma. The annual incidence for bone sarcomas is approximately 0.8/100,000 (Dorfman and Czerniak 1995). The subject is particularly pertinent when dealing with the knee, as the distal femur and proximal tibia are the sites of predilection for many benign and malignant bone tumors (Table 1). The purpose of this chapter is to detail the role of imaging in the detection and diagnosis of bone and soft tissue tumors in and around the knee joint, as well as in the surgical staging and follow-up of patients after initial treatment. We shall also highlight the numerous tumorlike lesions, which may confuse the unwary observer. Unless otherwise stated, incidence data quoted have been calculated by combining results from several authoritative texts on the subject (Mulder et al. 1993; Campanacci 1999; Unni 2010).