Non-cancerous bone growths dominate cases in young adults, says study | Hyderabad News

Hyderabad: Benign bone tumours and tumour-like lesions account for the largest share of bone abnormalities, particularly among young adults and teenagers, while malignant growths are relatively uncommon, according to a study by researchers at ESIC Medical College, Sanath Nagar.The study, titled ‘The Clinico-Pathological Evaluation of Bone Lesions: An Observational Study‘ and published in the International Journal of Academic Medicine and Pharmacy, analysed 97 patients over an eight-year period to understand the pattern and distribution of bone lesions.Researchers found that bone lesions were more common in males than females, with an overall male-to-female ratio of 1.6:1. The highest number of cases was reported in the 21-30 age group, with young males accounting for a significant proportion of patients.Benign bone lesions were predominantly seen among individuals aged 11-30 years, while malignant lesions were most frequently reported in the 41-50 age group. The researchers noted that many benign and intermediate lesions occur during the most active years of life, underscoring the importance of timely diagnosis and treatment.According to researchers Swapna Nuguri, GVRN Krishnakant and Seetha Vijayalakshmi, the femur was the most affected bone, followed by the phalanges and tibia.The study found that giant cell tumours were frequently seen in the fingers and femur, while osteochondroma and osteoid osteoma mainly affected the femur and tibia.Benign lesions accounted for nearly 42% of all cases, intermediate lesions about 40%, and malignant lesions around 18%.The researchers stressed the need for early medical evaluation of persistent bone-related symptoms, particularly among people below 30 years of age. They noted that histopathological examination remains the gold standard for diagnosis and recommended correlating tissue findings with clinical symptoms and imaging studies to ensure accurate diagnosis and effective treatment planning.