The Joint Space provides expert surgical care to adolescents and adults diagnosed with both benign and malignant musculoskeletal tumours and tumour-related conditions.  These can include soft tissue sarcomas, primary & metastatic bone tumours and pathological fractures (fractures caused by the presence of tumour).  

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Both A/Prof Sommerville and Dr Rowell are members of the Wesley Sarcoma MDT (Multi-Disciplinary Team).  The Wesley Hospital is the first private sarcoma MDT established in Australia and remains the only private hospital musculoskeletal sarcoma MDT in Queensland.  The MDT combines the expert knowledge of orthopaedic and sarcoma surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, radiologists and pathologists who work together as a team to provide a multidisciplinary, coordinated and customised treatment plan.  

 

What are musculoskeletal tumours?

The term 'musculoskeletal tumours' broadly refers to tumours that grow in the bone, and tumours that grow in the soft/connective  tissues i.e. fat, skin, nerves, muscle, cartilage etc. 

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Having any form of tumour or abnormality can be very distressing but it is important to remember that not all soft tissue and bone tumours are malignant/sarcomas (cancerous).  Some may be benign (usually non-life threatening), but can still be locally aggressive, and others may be malignant (life-threatening), but can be slow growing.  Malignant tumour cells can occasionally spread to other parts of the body, and this process is referred to as metastases.

 

Common benign soft tissue and bone tumours include:

schwannoma, lipoma, enchondroma, PVNS (pigmented villonodular synovitis)/tenosynovial giant cell tumour, giant cell tumour of bone, osteochondroma, osteoid osteoma, osteochondroma, aneurysmal bone cyst, chondroblastoma.

 

Common sarcomas (malignant bone or soft tissue tumours) include:

osteosarcoma, ewing's sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, sacral chordoma, synovial sarcoma, liposarcoma, leiomyosarcoma, angiosarcoma, myxofibrosarcoma.

 

Diagnosis

Sarcomas generally require a tissue diagnosis, which is obtained by biopsy.  Biopsy can be done via radiology-guided needle or surgical open biopsy.   These procedures are best facilitated by the treating sarcoma surgeon.

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Treatment

Sarcomas are commonly treated with either radiation therapy or chemotherapy, followed by surgery.  Some may be treated with surgery alone.  Patient and disease-specific treatments are planned and coordinated via the Wesley Sarcoma MDT.

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WESLEY SARCOMA MDT (Multidisciplinary Team)​

The Wesley Hospital is the first private sarcoma MDT established in Australia and remains the only private hospital musculoskeletal sarcoma MDT in Queensland.  The MDT combines the expert knowledge of orthopaedic and sarcoma surgeons, radiation oncologists, medical oncologists, radiologists and pathologists who work together as a team to provide a multidisciplinary, coordinated and customised treatment plan. 

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SURGEONS          

Assoc. Prof. Scott Sommerville, The Joint Space

Dr Philip Rowell, The Joint Space

Dr Martin Lowe, Martin Lowe Orthopaedics

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RADIATION ONCOLOGISTS

Dr David Schlect, Genesis Care

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MEDICAL ONCOLOGISTS        

Assoc. Prof. Nicole McCarthy, ICON Cancer Care Wesley

 

RADIOLOGIST

Dr Patricia Connor, I-MED Radiology

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PATHOLOGIST

Dr James Bennett, Sullivan Nicolaides Pathology

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