title: Primary bone tumors of the lower extremities.
abstract: The key to adequate and accurate evaluation, diagnosis, and treatment of bone tumors is an organized and integrated approach involving the surgeon, radiologist, and pathologist. The radiologist plays not only a valuable role in the diagnosis and preoperative staging of bone tumors but may also play a role in biopsy and treatment. Despite the wide variety of imaging modalities available today, radiographs remain the mainstay in the evaluation of osseous neoplasms. Advanced imaging is. however. very useful for staging purposes and for characterization of the internal characteristics of tumors and may aid significantly in limiting the differential diagnosis. Although a detailed discussion of all ofthe various bone tumors of the lower extremities is beyond the scope of this article, an attempt is made to provide a framework for a rational and comprehensive approach to these complicated but relatively uncommon lesions. Certain lesions with unique characteristics are discussed to facilitate the diagnostic process.
authors.affiliation: Department of Radiology, New York University Medical Center, 550 First Avenue, New York NY 10016, USA. george.nomikos@med.nyu.edu
authors.forename: George C
authors.initials: GC
authors.lastname: Nomikos
authors.forename: Mark D
authors.initials: MD
authors.lastname: Murphey
authors.forename: Mark J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Kransdorf
authors.forename: Laura W
authors.initials: LW
authors.lastname: Bancroft
authors.forename: Jeffrey J
authors.initials: JJ
authors.lastname: Peterson
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis*; D002648:Child; D005260:Female; D005529:Foot Bones; D006801:Humans; D007867:Leg Bones; D018810:Magnetic Resonance Angiography; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods; D008297:Male; D009362:Neoplasm Metastasis; D009367:Neoplasm Staging; D012983:Soft Tissue Neoplasms / Q000175:diagnosis