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. 2025 Feb 21;25(1):321.
doi: 10.1186/s12885-025-13720-0.

Bone tumors: a systematic review of prevalence, risk determinants, and survival patterns

Hasan Hosseini  1 , Sina Heydari  2 , Kiavash Hushmandi  3 , Salman Daneshi  4 , Rasoul Raesi  5   6
Affiliations

Bone tumors: a systematic review of prevalence, risk determinants, and survival patterns

Hasan Hosseini et al. BMC Cancer. .

Abstract

Background: Though relatively rare, bone tumors significantly impact patient health and treatment outcomes.

Objective: This systematic review analyzes the incidence, types, survival rates, and risk factors associated with bone tumors, including both benign and malignant forms.

Methods: This systematic review was conducted using the keywords "bone tumors," "epidemiology," "benign bone tumors," "malignant bone tumors," "osteosarcoma," "Ewing sarcoma," "chondrosarcoma," "risk factors," and "survival" in electronic databases including PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Google Scholar from 2000 to 2024. The search strategy was based on the PRISMA statement. Finally, 9 articles were selected for inclusion in the study.

Results: The systematic review highlights that primary bone tumors can be classified into benign and malignant types, with osteosarcoma being the most prevalent malignant form, particularly among adolescents and young adults. The epidemiology of bone tumors is influenced by factors such as age, gender, geographic location, and genetic predispositions. Recent advancements in imaging techniques have improved the detection of these tumors, contributing to an increasing recognition of their prevalence. Data shows that the limited-duration prevalence of malignant bone tumors has increased significantly. This increase is from 0.00069% in 2000 to 0.00749% in 2018, indicating an increasing recognition and diagnosis of these rare tumors over time. Survival rates vary significantly by tumor type, with approximately 50-60% for osteosarcoma and around 70% for Ewing's sarcoma, though these rates decrease with metastasis. Key risk factors identified include genetic predispositions such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome and TP53 mutations, environmental exposures like radiation, and growth patterns related to height.

Conclusion: The review highlights the importance of early diagnosis and treatment intervention, as survival rates are significantly better for patients with localized disease compared to those with metastatic conditions. The observed variations in survival rates across different tumor types underscore the need for tailored treatment strategies. Key risk factors include genetic predispositions and environmental exposures, highlighting the need for targeted screening and ongoing research to enhance diagnostic accuracy and treatment strategies.

Keywords: Bone tumors; Diagnostic imaging; Epidemiology; Incidence; Risk factors; Survival rates.

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Conflict of interest statement

Declarations. Ethics approval and consent to participate: Not applicable. Consent for publication: Not applicable. Competing interests: The authors declare no competing interests. Statement: The contents of this manuscript have not been copyrighted or published previously, and will not be copyrighted, submitted, or published elsewhere while acceptance by this Journal is under consideration.

Figures

Fig. 1
Fig. 1
The process of searching and screening selected articles based on PRISMA guidelines
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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