Metastatic Bone Disease: When Cancer Spreads to the Skeleton

When cancer spreads to bone, treatment goals can differ from those of primary bone cancer, with orthopedic surgery often considered for pain, impending or actual pathological fractures, spinal or pelvic instability, and loss of function. Consequently, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Surgeons (AAOS) includes metastatic disease of the upper and lower extremities, pelvis, and spine within the scope of musculoskeletal oncology.