Long-standing Experience
Sarcoma is a cancer that occurs in bone tissues or soft tissues as its incidence is very low, and the types of sarcoma vary which makes it is difficult for an institution to accumulate sufficient treatment experience. The Seoul National University Cancer Hospital (SNUCH) Musculoskeletal Tumor Center has been treating multiple types of sarcoma since the early 1980s in Korea, and has treated the most patients with sarcoma. This accumulated experience sets us apart from other hospitals, and enables us to provide accurate diagnosis and the best treatment. There are many patients who have undergone osteosarcoma leg surgery before 10 years old and have fully recovered who still regularly visit the center for screening in their middle ages based on the extensive experience of our center. We are providing the best treatments for not only cancer patients but also patients with borderline tumors such as benign tumors, giant cell tumors, and fibromatosis occurring in the musculoskeletal system. We are the only center in Korea that annually discloses the results of sarcoma cancer treatments in the medical quality index report of Seoul National University Hospital.
Organized Cooperation with Best Medical Staff
To treat sarcoma, a multidisciplinary approach to diagnosis and treatment involving experts in various fields is essential. For this reason, we are working in coordination with various specialties including Orthopedic Surgery, Medical Oncology, Radiology, Radiation Oncology, Pathology, Nuclear Medicine, and Pediatric Oncology to provide the most efficient and suitable treatment for patients.
State-of-the-art Surgical technique, Diagnosis and Treatment
When treating sarcoma, it is essential to completely remove sarcoma through surgery. To preserve physical functions as much as possible, it is important to remove cancer without leaving any damage to normal tissues. We provide world-class treatment by various state-of the art surgical methods to preserve the functions as much as possible without amputating the limb. In addition, we have been tracking the functions of patients’ reconstructed arms and legs for a lifetime to ensure the efficacy of future treatments. Many research papers are published annually in world-renowned journals and have played a pivotal role in international conferences in related fields.
Preserving Quality of Life for Patients with Bone Metastasis
In addition to sarcoma, we have been treating metastatic bone tumors which have metastasized to bone from various primary cancers such as lung or breast cancer. As cancer that has metastasized to the bone causes pain and disability, restricts the activity of the patient, and lowers quality of life, a more active approach to treatment is required now that cancer patients can survive longer than in the past. For this reason, we are performing more functional and long-lasting treatments for bone metastasis through cooperation and surgery.