Epidemiology of Primary Malignant Bone Tumors in Isfahan Province, Iran

Primary malignant tumors, including rare tumors of the skeleton, are of concern. However, the unpredictable prognosis, morbidity, and mortality of these tumors have raised them as one of the health problems. 

This study was designed to evaluate the epidemiological characteristics of these tumors in Isfahan province, Iran.

In this cross-sectional study, 489 patients with malignant bone and soft tissue tumors were enrolled from 2006 to 2016. Their data were available in Isfahan medical centers, and their diagnostic biopsies from their hospitals’ records were examined. The data were statistically analyzed using SPSS.

The most common tumors were in the descending order: Osteosarcoma (15.1%), Ewing sarcoma (13.7%), chondrosarcoma (13.1%), fibrosarcoma and neurofibrosarcoma (10.8%), malignant fibrous histiocytoma (7.8%), synovial sarcoma (6.7%), liposarcoma (6.5%), dermatofibrosarcoma (3.3%), rhabdomyosarcoma (3.1%), and leiomyosarcoma (3.1%).  Other sarcomas comprised 16.8%. The highest prevalence of tumors was in Isfahan city.

This study was conducted for the first time in Isfahan Province to evaluate the epidemiological characteristics of malignant bone and soft tissue tumors. Our study results were similar to most studies conducted in different regions of the world. Considering the relatively high prevalence of malignant bone and soft tissue tumors in lower age groups, we recommend further studies in this area to manage this problem.