Osteolytic lesions weaken bone, leading to pain,bone fractures, and other potentially serious complications.

Treatment is necessary to ease symptoms and stave off further bone deterioration.

This article discusses osteolytic lesions, the symptoms they cause, and why they occur.

Film X-ray shoulder radiograph show Aneurysmal bone cyst disease (ABC) which benign tumor of bone (osteolytic bone neoplasm). Highlight on bone lesion and painful area. Medical oncology concept

sittithat tangwitthayaphum / Getty Images

It also explains how lytic lesions are diagnosed and treated.

Some of the symptoms and conditions that arise from lytic lesions include:

What Causes Osteolytic Lesions?

Osteolytic vs. Osteoblastic Lesions

Osteolytic lesions are not the same as osteoblastic lesions.

Both terms describe the cellular pathways that lead to bone issues, but they are opposites of one another.

Though not as common, some cancers can even cause both types of lesions.

Abone marrow biopsyis used to diagnose and monitor these cancers.

Bisphosphonatesare given intravenously approximately every four weeks.

The medication is often given alongside cancer treatment such as chemotherapy.

Frequently Asked Questions

Yes.

Overall, however, most osteolytic lesions are cancerous.

Bhutani, M.; Turkbey, B.; Tan, E,; et al.

“Leukemia & Lymphoma.

2015;75:161-9. doi:10.1016/j.bone.2015.02.021

Maltzman, JD.Bone Metastasis Treatment With Medications.

David Roodman G, Silbermann R.Mechanisms of osteolytic and osteoblastic skeletal lesions.Bonekey Rep. 2015 Oct 28;4:753. doi:10.1038/bonekey.2015.122.

2016 Jun 13;8(6):e639.

Macedo F, Ladeira K, Pinho F, et al.Bone Metastases: An Overview.Oncol Rev.

2017;11(1):321. doi:10.4081/oncol.2017.321

American Cancer Society.Survival Rates for Multiple Myeloma.

Rajkumar, S. “Myeloma today: Disease definitions and treatment advances.

“American Journal of Hematology.

2015;91(1):90-100. doi:10.1002/ajh.24236