I underwent surgery checking for secondary bone cancer. The surgeon described the bone that was removed as being soft and spongy. What does that mean?
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Replies(1)
Dr. Nikola Gjuzelov
, MD
replied on April 10th, 2006
Bone Cancer Answer A697
A patho-hystologycal report indicates the meaning of “soft and spongy”. Generally, "spongy" is a misnomer; spongy bone is actually hard and calcified; it is named for its sponge-like appearance. It is permeated by spaces filled with bone marrow. Spongy bone is well designed to give strength to a bone without burdening it with weight. The loos organization of spongy bone can be found at the ends of long bones and in the middle of short, flat, and irregular bones. It is always enclosed by more durable, compact bone...perhaps this is why your surgeon described the bone as "soft".
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