Orthopedic Surgery

Bone Metastasis

When cancer in one part of the body grows and spreads to another part, it is said the cancer has metastasized. When the cancer spreads to a bone it is called bone metastasis.

Bone has an outer layer and a spongy inner layer. Inside that inner layer is bone marrow. All parts of the bone have blood vessels running through it, and through this network of blood vessels cancer can spread.

Using laboratory tests doctors can tell when a cancer began in the bone (primary cancer) or has spread to the bone (secondary cancer). These tests show what types of cells are within the cancer that was found in the bone.

For example, if the person originally had brain cancer and is now showing symptoms of bone cancer, tests can show the bone cancer has brain cells in it and is therefore a secondary cancer, not the original cancer. This information is important because it can have a significant impact on how the cancer can be treated.

Causes of bone metastasis

When cancer cells break away from a tumor, they move through the body by blood vessels or the lymphatic system (part of the circulatory system). These cells may land in a different part of the body and that is how cancer metastasizes or spreads.

Symptoms of bone metastasis

Symptoms of bone metastasis depend on a variety of factors including the type of tumor, location of the tumor, and your child’s age and general health.

Indications of bone metastasis include:

Diagnosing bone metastasis

Diagnosing bone metastasis — and the origin of the cancer cells — requires a thorough evaluation, a physical examination of your child and a detailed medical history.

At The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, clinical experts use a variety of diagnostic tests to diagnose bone metastasis and malignant tumors, including:

Treating bone metastasis

At The Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, we practice collaborative, family-centered care. A team of expert clinicians — including leading orthopedic and oncology physicians and surgeons, advanced practice nurses, physician assistants, pediatric nurses, physical and occupational therapists, psychologists and other specialists — will partner with you in the care of your child.

Bone metastasis is fast-growing and cancerous, so treatment must be similarly aggressive. The best way to treat bone metastasis is to treat the primary or original cancer.

There are some treatments that can slow the spread of the cancer in the bone. One such treatment is a class of drugs called bisphosphonates, which decrease the risk of complications such as bone fractures, and lower blood-calcium levels that are too high.

Research has also shown that over-the-counter pain relievers like aspirin and ibuprofen can be effective — at least in the short term — in stopping prostaglandin, which is responsible for a lot of bone pain. Prostaglandins are messenger molecules that control the contraction and relaxation of smooth muscle tissue.

Treatment options for bone metastasis  


Surgical treatment for bone metastasis may be used alone or in conjunction with chemotherapy, radiation therapy or proton therapy. 

Surgeries performed are typically:

In a wide resection with margins, the tumor is surgically removed, as well as some of the healthy tissue that surrounded the tumor — the margins of the tumor. In some cases, the child will need reconstructive surgery after the tumor has been cut out.

Reconstruction can include:




Chemotherapy refers to medicines that help fight cancer. They are given by mouth, in the vein, in the muscle or under the skin. Intrathecal chemotherapy is chemotherapy that is injected into the spinal fluid to prevent or treat a malignant tumor in the brain and spinal cord.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy waves such as X-rays to kill or shrink cancer cells. It is sometimes used to treat cancer in the central nervous system or other places such as the eye or the testes.

Proton therapy

Proton therapy is an innovative form of radiation treatment that allows for more precise radiation doses delivered to cancerous tumors. Proton therapy’s greatest benefit is that it is less damaging to the surrounding healthy tissue because it delivers most of its energy to a very narrow field at the location of the tumor. Learn more about proton therapy   

Follow-up care for bone metastasis

Most children are able to go home shortly after surgery. They may require pain medications until the surgical site heals or ongoing physical therapy.


Malignant tumors can reoccur — even after being successfully treated — so it is important for your child to see a physician regularly, especially if any symptoms reoccur.

During follow-up visits, X-rays and other diagnostic testing of the tumor site are recommended to closely monitor your child’s health and ensure there are no side effects from surgery, chemotherapy or proton therapy.


Long-term outcomes for bone metastasis

The long-term outcome of bone metastasis depends on many things: the type of primary or original cancer, how well your child responds to treatment, and if the cancer has spread to more than one location. 


For more information on malignant musculoskeletal tumors visit:

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Reviewed by: John P. Dormans, MD, FACS, and Jason L. Katz, PA-C, MHS, ATC-R
Date: April 2013

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