A doctor, not a layperson in a forum, explains possible causes (cancer??) of a painful bony lump on your kneecap (patella).
“The most common cause of a lump on the patella is Osgood-Schlatter disease,” says Devin B. Peck, MD, owner of Austin Interventional Pain in Austin, TX.
“This is caused by inflammation of the patellar tendon and is most common in adolescents,” says Dr. Peck.
“Risk factors include overuse from sports and periods of rapid growth as during adolescence. It is benign and is often easily treated with rest and ice.”
What about cancer?
Dr. Peck says, “A painful lump on the patella is very unlikely to be cancer. Most bone tumors are not malignant and may not be painful.
“With bone tumors, there will commonly be associated symptoms such as weight loss, fatigue or other symptoms, and pain will typically be progressively worse over time.
“There may be no pain, and bony tumors sometimes present as fractures, as bones affected by tumors become weaker.
“However, any new lump or mass should be brought to the attention of your physician.”
Dr. Peck’s
