What the department does
The department performs bone and soft-tissue tumour resections, skin tumour excision, lymph-node dissection, and reconstructive surgery. Procedures include joint replacement, prosthesis revision, bone fixation, and reconstruction using tissue flaps or vascular prostheses. Spinal procedures include image-guided biopsy and decompressive laminectomy.
Conditions and clinical questions addressed
The department treats tumours affecting bones, soft tissues, and skin, including melanoma and recurrent or metastatic skin tumours. Its scope includes pelvic and spinal tumours and spinal cord compression caused by vertebral tumours.
Clinical approach
Care involves surgical oncologists, radiology specialists, vascular surgeons, neurosurgeons, and chemotherapy specialists. Available technologies include CT-based three-dimensional surgical planning, image-guided biopsy, intra-arterial chemotherapy for bone and soft-tissue tumours, and immunotherapy for melanoma.
What patients can expect
Assessment may include a core biopsy guided by CT, X-ray, or ultrasound. Depending on the tumour, surgery may involve removal and reconstruction of affected bone or soft tissue. Joint replacement or bone fixation may form part of treatment. Selected patients may receive intra-arterial chemotherapy or, for melanoma, immunotherapy.
