Orthopaedic Oncology
Andrea Evenski, MDTumors – cancerous and non-cancerous – that affect the limbs, spine or pelvis can be potentially fatal and have devastating effects on a patient's quality of life. The Penn Orthopaedic Oncology Service is a select health care provider and one of the few in Pennsylvania offering complete care for tumors of the musculoskeletal system in both children and adults.
Nationally Recognized Team
The Penn Orthopaedic Oncology Service at Pennsylvania Hospital was established by nationally recognized orthopaedic oncology surgeon, Richard Lackman, MD. Dr. Lackman was the first fellowship-trained orthopaedic tumor surgeon in Philadelphia when he started his practice in 1983. Since that time, he has developed one of the largest musculoskeletal tumor referral practices in the United States.
Dr. Lackman sees approximately 1100 new orthopaedic tumor patients each year and performs about 700 surgical procedures. Dr. Lackman specializes in the treatment of malignant and benign tumors of bone and soft tissue with a special interest in limb preservation techniques.
Conditions Treated
The words "orthopaedic oncology" may appear confusing, but simply put this service combines the study of the musculoskeletal system (muscles, joints and bones) with the treatment of tumors. Our doctors are very skilled in the treatment of sarcomas, or cancers of the bone and soft tissue. Sarcomas are rare compared to the more common carcinomas, which develop in the breast, lung, colon, and other areas.
The most common soft tissue sarcomas include malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH), liposarcoma and synovial sarcoma. These occur most typically as deep painless masses in the legs, arms and pelvis. The most common bone sarcomas include osteosarcoma and Ewing's sarcoma which normally occur in adolescents and young adults, and chondrosarcoma which usually occurs in older adults.
Services and Treatments
The comprehensive Penn Orthopaedic Oncology Service is a multi-disciplinary program that includes up-to-the-minute treatment techniques by all involved subspecialties including medical oncology, surgical oncology, radiation therapy and others. This collaboration of medical knowledge and experience offers patients the most complete care available. We work as a team to provide the latest surgical and non-surgical options tailored to the patient's individual needs. As with most cancers, early detection and treatment is optimal.
Not all treatments require surgery and the Penn Orthopaedic Institute offers patients state-of the-art non-surgical techniques including:
- chemotherapy
- radiation therapy
- radio-frequency ablation (heat cautery)
- cryosurgery (freezing)