Orthopaedic Oncology

Welcome to the Division of Orthopaedic Oncology at Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. At Montefiore, we have assembled a team of specialists who are dedicated to providing comprehensive care to patients with bone and soft tissue tumors. We understand that having a bone or soft tissue tumor is a stressful and difficult situation and we will work together with you and your family to diagnose and treat you as expertly and kindly as possible.

Sarcomas are cancers of bone, muscle, cartilage, fat and other types of connective tissue. Approximately 9,000 new cases of sarcoma are diagnosed each year in the United States. Nationally, there are currently approximately 100,000 sarcoma patients. Because these tumors are relatively rare, having a dedicated and experienced sarcoma team is important to ensure proper diagnosis and appropriate treatment.

Multidisciplinary Care

Patients of all ages come to us for our dedicated sarcoma team, as well as our multidisciplinary approach, advanced treatment techniques, and family-centered care. We evaluate and treat numerous benign conditions including simple bone cysts, aneurismal bone cysts, hemagiomas, non-ossifying fibromas, giant cell tumors, enchondromas, osteoid osteomas, osteoblastomas, and chondroblastomas to name a few. We also diagnose and manage all types of metastatic diseases and sarcomas including; Angiosarcomas, Fibrosarcomas, Liposarcomas, Leiomyosarcomas, Ewing's Sarcomas, Rhabdomyosarcomas, Synovial Sarcomas, Malignant Fibrous Histiocytomas, Fibrosarcomas, Chondrosarcomas and Osteosarcomas, to name a few.

Our sarcoma team is composed of members from many different disciplines and specialties who work together to provide a comprehensive plan that is individually tailored for each patient. Team members include: oncologists, radiologists, pathologists, radiation oncologists, orthopaedic oncologists, spine surgeons, and plastics and reconstructive surgeons. David S. Geller, MD is a full-time fellowship-trained orthopaedic oncologist involved in the orthopaedic care of both adults and pediatric patients.

Montefiore Medical Center has two separate sarcoma clinics - one for pediatrics at the Children's Hospital at Montefiore and another for adults in the Department of Orthopaedic Surgery. Therefore, patients benefit from the expertise and insights of various specialists, who are specifically trained to work with different age groups.

Additionally, our sarcoma team utilizes a brand new radiation oncology facility, brand new state-of-the art pediatric operating rooms, and the latest in chemotherapy medications and clinical trials. We make available all of the latest limb-preserving techniques using allograft bone, allograft prosthetic composites, modular endoprosthesis, and growing endoprosthesis for skeletally immature patients to maximize leg length equality. Surgical options are carefully evaluated on an individual basis and a patient-specific plan is formulated for each patient and each situation.

Determining Diagnosis / What To Bring With You

The Division of Orthopaedic Oncology is dedicated to seeing all new and existing patients. Typically we can schedule patients for an appointment within a day or two, and we make every effort to accommodate our patients' busy schedules.

The first step in treating a bone or soft-tissue tumor is to obtain or confirm the correct diagnosis. This may require a number of tests or a review of examinations already performed at other facilities. We review and obtain all of these studies as quickly and expedient as possible, so you can begin treatment immediately.

New patients may be required to undergo several different tests, including a biopsy. Our multidisciplinary team will review all of these studies to determine final recommendations, which can often be made within one week. We ask that patients who have already had tests done to bring the following materials to their first appointment:

	Imaging Studies		Hard copies of all pertinent studies on CD or film, including X-rays, MRIs, CT scans, bone scans, and PET scans
	Slides		Pathology slides if a biopsy or surgery was performed
	Reports		Any reports or office notes from other doctor visits
	Medications		A list of all current medications and doses

We understand patients have many questions about their specific conditions, and are always available to answer your questions in an informative and compassionate manner.

Commitment To Research

Part of the Division of Orthopaedic Oncology's mission is to actively educate the residents and medical students at Montefiore Medical Center and the Albert Einstein College of Medicine. We strive to participate in the advancements of tumor treatment through clinical research and investigative laboratory studies. One currently underway explores the cellular and molecular differences between benign and malignant cartilage tumors to further enhance the accuracy of patients' diagnoses. We are also conducting a clinical study, designed to evaluate more specific criteria for preventative surgical treatment of impending metastatic femur fractures through the use of modern imaging services. Our commitment to education and research underscores our mission to help each patient experience all that life has to offer while experiencing the best possible cancer treatment at Montefiore Medical Center.