When the bone cells start to divide at a larger pace, it results in blastic bone lesions. Uncontrollable bone lesions can lead to bone metastases which is a cancerous disease. These bone lesions are further divided into cancerous and non-cancerous. Most of the blastic lesions are non-cancerous, known as benign.
At the same time, some bone lesions are cancerous, which are known as malignant bone tumors. The spread of cancer from its site of origin to the body is known as metastasis. This article will teach you how bone lesions can lead to serious bone metastases.
What Are Blastic Bone Lesions?
The blastic bone lesions are caused when the cancer cells release the fluids. This release of fluids and substances soon turns on the osteoblasts, which leads to the formation of new bone. In this process, the older bone doesn’t break down while the new bone forms. Due to this, the bones get harder and cause the condition called sclerosis.
The areas of the bone where this condition occurs are called the blastic lesions. It can affect any part and section of the bone. A growing bone lesion destroys the healthy tissue and bone, leading to fractures. The malignant lesions start to metastasize, easily spreading to other body parts.
How Do Blastic Bone Lesions Cause Problems?
Bone is the framework of the body which provides structural support. These are made from the fibrous tissue network called a matrix. Other minerals such as calcium give the bones strength and hardness. The two cells of the bone help us understand how bone metastases affect the bones of our body. These two main types of cells are osteoblasts and osteoclasts.
- Cancer-producing cells start making substances that affect the bone cells called osteoclasts. Due to this, the bone starts to break down without forming the new one. As a result, blastic bone lesions start forming, leading to future bone cancer.
- In another case, cancer-producing cells start releasing the substances that affect the osteoblast cells. During this process, a new bone forms without breaking down the old bone.
- The blastic bone lesions also spread to the bone of the spine. The tumors start forming on the spinal cord, which leads to serious damage. The growing lesions damage the nerves and lead to paralysis if not treated on time.
- The other problems caused by the blastic bone lesions are the higher calcium levels in the bone. Once the cancer cells start damaging the bones, calcium is released into the blood. The higher calcium levels in the blood can lead to conditions like hypercalcemia.
Lytic Vs Blastic Bone Lesions
There has been a major difference between the lytic and blastic bone lesions. People have misunderstood lytic vs blastic bone lesions for a long time. The difference between these two bone lesions is the amount of bone destruction. In the lytic lesion, a particular area of the bone is destroyed due to bone metastases. However, it predominates the destruction and causes the lytic process.
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On the other hand, blastic bone lesions fill the bone with extra cells. In these lesions, the new bone forms without destroying the old one. Both of the bone lesions disrupt the balance and lead to bone metastases. It generally occurs in the central parts of the skeleton. The common difference between lytic and blastic bone lesions in the area of the bone. Common bone lesion sites are the spine, upper leg, arm, skull, and pelvis.
Symptoms Of Blastic Bone Lesions Which Leads To Bone Metastases
It is important to understand the symptoms of the lesions in the bone, which can lead to bone metastases. In many cases, the early signs of the lesions lead to bone cancer. Most people notice severe pain and neurological impairment due to the changes in the bone structure. Here are the common symptoms which can lead to bone metastases:
Pain In The Bone
The most common symptom of blastic bone lesions is a pain in the bone. This pain slowly spreads to the other bones of the body. In the beginning, the pain is frequent, which comes and goes with time. But in the later stage, this bone pain goes worse and becomes more constant. You might face pain of different types coming from the bone. Other diseases such as bone infections and arthritis can also cause bone pain. It is recommended to consult your doctor when you notice bone pain.
Fractures In Bone
During the blastic bone lesions, the cells of the bone start to be damaged. When the lesions start forming cancer-producing cells, it may lead to fractures in the bone. You may notice the rapid bone injuries from time to time. These bone fractures are often sudden and cause severe pain. With the growing bone metastases, people face the spine problem, which breaks and collapses due to cancer.
Compression Of Spinal Cord
The cancer spreads to the spine in the later stage of the bone metastases. The condition causes spinal cord compression, which is a serious issue. The spine is important, which helps you in positioning and moving. In the early symptoms of blastic bone lesions, people face pain in the neck and back. The excessive pressure on the spine damages the spinal cord’s nerves and causes conditions like numbness and weakness.
High Levels Of Blood Calcium
When the blastic bone lesions spread to the bones, calcium starts to be released into the bloodstream. The higher calcium level in the blood leads to hypercalcemia. People generally face problems like constipation, loss of appetite, and nausea in this condition. The higher calcium in the body also leads to excess urination, weakness, and sleepiness.
Diagnosis Of Blastic Bone Lesions
The blastic bone lesions can affect any age group and gender. It is important to diagnose it before it starts to cause serious problems. In some cases, these lesions show no symptoms at all. Here are the diagnosis process used to diagnose bone metastases:
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Imaging Tests
Various imaging tests are used to diagnose bone metastases. Imaging tests like X-rays, bone scans, CT scans, MRI, and PET, are widely used to diagnose the early stage of blastic bone lesions. Every test has been done before, during, and after the treatment. These tests are easy to find the stage and type of bone cancer.
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Blood Tests
When the blastic bone lesions spread into the blood, various blood tests have been used to diagnose it. Calcium tests have been used to determine the level of calcium in the blood. This test is often used to look for bone metastases cancer. Other Alkaline phosphatase tests were also conducted to check the alkaline level, which also affects the lever.
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Urine Tests
During bone cancer, people face the problem of urination. Many cancer specialists do urine tests to check the several substances in the urine. At the time of bone damage, the N-telopeptide was released in the urine. With the help of urine tests, it is easy to diagnose blastic bone lesions in their early stage.
Conclusion
The blastic bone lesions form due to the natural formation of bones. Lytic vs blastic bone lesions can cause various symptoms like pain, fractures, high calcium levels, and spine compression. The small bone lesions can turn into cancerous bone metastases if not diagnosed or treated on time. If you notice any symptoms of bone lesions in yourself, please reach out to a cancer specialist as soon as possible.
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