Bone cancer: Advances in diagnostic research

Primary bone malignancies are uncommon tumors, with osteosarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and Ewing's sarcoma being the three predominant types. The diagnosis of bone cancer typically relies on patient symptoms, physical examinations, blood tests, imaging examinations, and biopsy tests. Before conducting a biopsy, it is crucial to conduct a thorough staging assessment for all persons who are suspected of having bone sarcomas. Although numerous quantitative techniques have been developed to analyze metastasis in living organisms, effectively detecting and quantifying rare occurrences of metastatic processes has been challenging. An extensive diagnostic assessment for suspected primary bone cancers encompasses chest imaging (such as a chest radiograph or CT scan to detect any lung metastases), appropriate imaging of the primary site (such as plain radiographs, MRI for local staging, and CT scan. Before starting treatment, laboratory examinations such as a complete blood count (CBC), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), alkaline phosphatase tests, and other bone resorption and formation markers are recommended.