Epidemiology of bone tumors in Mexico City: retrospective clinicopathologic study of 566 patients at a referral institution

A retrospective analysis of all bone tumors accessioned at a large referral center (Instituto Nacional de Rehabilitacion) in Mexico City between 2000 and 2005 is presented. A total of 6216 biopsies and surgical resection specimens were reviewed during this period, of which 566 corresponded to bone tumors. Benign bone tumors accounted for 71.6% of cases and malignant bone tumors for 28.4%. The tumors affected men in 53.7% of cases and women in 46.3% of cases, with an average age at presentation of 25 years. The femur was the most common location of the tumors (39.9%), followed by the tibia (17.7%) and humerus (11.8%). The commonest malignant bone tumors were osteosarcoma (46.6%) and chondrosarcoma (8.7%). Of malignant bone tumors, 18.6% corresponded to metastases of carcinomas from internal organs and 8.1% were multiple myeloma. The most common benign bone tumor was osteochondroma (43.7%) followed by giant cell tumor of bone (14.6%) and enchondroma (10.1%). The age distribution showed a peak in children and adolescents comprised predominantly of benign lesions and a second peak in young adults that corresponded to malignant bone tumors (principally osteosarcoma). Malignant bone tumors most often involved the femur, vertebra, and tibia. Our results parallel the findings previously reported in the world literature and show a similar distribution and epidemiology as in other developed and underdeveloped countries. Geographic location does not appear to represent a risk factor for any particular type of bone tumor and does not affect the age distribution, location, or histopathologic type of the lesions.