Felasfa M. Wodajo, MD, Editor

Patients with suspected bone and soft tissue tumors can be challenging for orthopedic surgeons. While few physicians will miss the diagnosis of osteosarcoma in an adolescent with a destructive distal femur lesion, far more common is the lesion that appears benign yet still creates anxiety for the clinician and patient. However, attention to a few key imaging and clinical findings is enough to correctly diagnose five of the most common bone and soft tissue lesions.

In “Top Five Lesions That Do Not Need Referral to Orthopedic Oncology,” I review the diagnostic features of lipoma, enchondroma, osteochondroma, nonossifying fibroma, and Paget disease. Accurate identification of these lesions should be within the scope of most orthopedic surgeons. As most of these patients will not need surgical treatment, referral to orthopedic oncology will not typically be required. It is hoped that this article will help guide surgeons and patients toward more expeditious resolutions for these common musculoskeletal lesions.