title: Incidence, location, and diagnostic evaluation of metastatic bone disease.
abstract: Metastatic carcinoma is the most common malignancy of bone. The clinical presentation of patients with skeletal metastasis is variable. When asked to evaluate a patient with a pathologic lesion or unexplained bone pain, the orthopedic surgeon should follow a logical sequence of steps in evaluating the patient with suspected metastasis to optimize care and avoid complications. In the majority of cases, a systematic approach to the patient with skeletal metastasis leads to the correct diagnosis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Orthopaedic Surgery, Emory University School of Medicine, Atlanta, Georgia, USA.
authors.forename: W D
authors.initials: WD
authors.lastname: Hage
authors.forename: A J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Aboulafia
authors.forename: D M
authors.initials: DM
authors.lastname: Aboulafia
mesh_terms: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor / Q000097:blood; D001706:Biopsy; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000097:blood / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000453:epidemiology / Q000556:secondary*; D006801:Humans; D015994:Incidence; D009382:Neoplasms, Unknown Primary / Q000175:diagnosis
chemical_list: D014408:Biomarkers, Tumor