Benign bone tumors and tumor like lesions

Benign bone tumors and tumor like lesions are a very heterogeneous group of bone lesions, which demand a careful and systematic approach. Knowledge of the basic principles of diagnosis and therapy of the different entities is mandatory. About one third of all cases treated at a bone and soft tissue tumor center occurred in children and adolescents. While stage I lesions might be observed clinically and radiologically, for stage II and stage III lesions an incisional biopsy has to be performed using oncological guidelines. A one stage operation (excisional biopsy) may only be done in radiologically clear cases. Overtreatment of stage I lesions should be avoided as well as inadequate treatment of stage III lesions, which leads to high recurrence rates. If the diagnostic and therapeutic algorithm is strictly followed, diagnostic failures and incorrect treatments will be reduced to a minimum.