Spectrum of Bone Tumors in Chiang Mai University Hospital, Thailand According to WHO Classification 2002: A Study of 1,001 Cases
Jongkolnee Settakorn MD*, Suree Lekawanvijit MD*, Olarn Arpornchayanon MD**, Samreung Rangdaeng MD*, Pramote Vanitanakom MD*, Sarawut Kongkarnka MD*, Ruangrong Cheepsattayakorn MD*, Charin Ya-In MD*, Paul S Thorner MD***
Affiliation : * Department of Pathology, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai ** Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Faculty of Medicine, Chiang Mai University, Chiang Mai *** Department of Laboratory Medicine, Hospital for Sick Children and University of Toronto, Toronto, Canada
Objective : The aim of the present study was to determine the spectrum, frequency and demographics of bone
tumors.
Materials and Methods : A retrospective study of the 1,001 bone tumor specimens from the files at the Pathology
Department of the Chiang Mai University Hospital, Thailand from 2000 to 2004.
Results : From the study, 41 were non-neoplastic mass lesions, and 960 were neoplastic, with 856 (89%) as
primary and 104 (11%) as metastatic tumors. In the primary tumor group, 654 (76%) cases were of hemato-
logic origin, and 202 (24%) were non-hematologic. The most common benign bone tumors were giant cell
tumor (n = 37), osteochondroma (n = 25), and chondroma (n = 15). The most common malignant bone tumors
were lymphoma-leukemia (n = 583), metastatic malignancy (n = 104), plasma cell myeloma (n = 71), and
osteosarcoma (n = 58).
Conclusion : The present study showed a higher frequency of osteosarcoma (68%), lower frequencies of
chondrosarcoma (12%) and Ewing sarcoma (4%) among primary non-hematologic malignant bone tumors
when compared with similar studies based on Western patients. Whether these differences reflect differences in
the ethnic population or in practice patterns remains to be determined.
Keywords : Bone tumor, Osteosarcoma, Frequency, Distribution, Location
