Preface

*Bone Tumours - A Comprehensive Review of Selected Topics* reviews key aspects of the management of bone tumours.

The contents are arranged in three sections. Section 1 discusses general topics and new research that help us to revisit the way we have been managing bone tumours. Chapter 1 discusses anaesthesia techniques to improve outcomes, while Chapter 2 explores new key concepts in the diagnosis of bone tumours. Chapter 3 is about the factors that influence the process of bone metastasis in solid tumours.

Section 2 is devoted to breast carcinoma, which remains one of the commonest malignancies globally. Chapter 4 presents new research on pre-metastasis in breast cancer and the interaction of bone tissue within a microenvironment. Chapter 5 comprehensively reviews modern management of bone health in breast cancer patients.

The subject of Section 3 is deep tumours, mainly sarcomas and blastomas that have been successfully managed with a good prognosis over the last decade thanks to a number of research successes. Chapter 6 discusses management of sarcomas in a challenging region of the body. Chapter 7 examines modern chemotherapy and gene therapy using drug targeting of chromosomal translocations, mainly in fusion-positive osteosarcoma. Chapter 8 discusses the general principles and the latest thinking behind the use of statins and other lipid-lowering drugs in the overall treatment of sarcomas. The final chapter looks at modern ameloblastoma management and describes future directions in management modalities.

All nine chapters are written by specialist researchers in key areas of bone tumour management, and discuss current research. New concepts and modern evidence-based research are presented against the background of existing principles.

I am sure this book will not only help researchers and scientists, but equally all clinicians including oncologists, radiotherapists, chemotherapists, orthopaedic surgeons and all involved in managing bone tumours. It will not only be useful as a quick read for individuals but also as a reference book that should have a place in all science and medical libraries. I thank all the authors for contributing their chapters, and Paula Gavran, Author Service Manager, and all the staff at IntechOpen for helping to make both electronic and printed versions of this book a success.

> **Hiran Amarasekera** Faculties of Medicine, University of Kelaniya, Kelaniya, Sri Lanka

General Sir John Kotelawala Defence University, Dehiwala-Mount Lavinia, Sri Lanka

> Neville Fernando Teaching Hospital, Malabe, Sri Lanka

> > Section 1

General Concepts
