Orthopedic Oncology

Orthopedic medicine focuses on disorders affecting bones, joints, muscles, ligaments, tendons and nerves.  Specifically, the field of orthopedic oncology deals with the diagnosis and treatment of benign and malignant (cancerous) growths of the bone and soft tissue.

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Comprehensive Care

UC Irvine Medical Center is home to the Chao Family Comprehensive Cancer Center-the only National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer center in Orange County. Our orthopedic oncologists are experts in diagnosing and treating soft tissue and bone disorders, including tumors called sarcomas.

Specialists

We take a multidisciplinary approach that brings together many different experts for optimal patient care.  Our orthopedic oncology team includes surgeons, pathologists, surgical, medical and radiation oncologists, nurses and other allied health professionals. Because our specialists work together, separate referrals are not required. Patients benefit from individualized treatment plans that include the best options from all disciplines.  Some of the many procedures provided at the center include:

Surgery

• Biopsy (open, needle, CT-guided)
• Vascular embolization
• Tumor resection
• Reconstruction of bone, soft tissue and skin
• Microvascular reconstruction
• Prosthetic replacement

Chemotherapy

• Preoperative and postoperative treatments

Radiation Therapy

• External beam radiation therapy
• Conformal radiation therapy
• Brachytherapy

Imaging

• PET scan
• Bone scan
• Contrast-enhanced MRI

Sarcoma Center

Sarcomas are a unique group of tumors that can affect bone, cartilage, fat, blood and lymph vessels, tendons, muscles and nerves.  Sarcomas from different tissue types have different names. The majority of sarcomas are malignant.  

A strong focus on sarcoma research and treatment led to the creation of the UC Irvine Multidisciplinary Sarcoma Center. Here, experts from many disciplines consult on each case to diagnose and treat sarcomas effectively.  In fact, we are a central referral center for patients from outside our area.  Our physicians are also active in research studies to improve the understanding of sarcomas and how to stop their growth.

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Surgery is often necessary in sarcoma treatment.  Our physicians emphasize limb-sparing surgeries (also called limb salvage) whenever possible.  Because tumors can metastasize to distant parts of the body, we also integrate orthopedic procedures with other therapies to maximize the effectiveness of treatments.