From the Research
Chondroblastoma is a rare, benign cartilaginous bone tumor derived from epiphyseal chondrocytes, typically affecting the epiphysis of long bones in adolescents and young adults, with a recurrence rate of approximately 10-20% after treatment.
Key Characteristics
- It accounts for about 1% of all bone tumors and predominantly affects males between the ages of 10 and 25 years 1.
- The tumor originates from immature cartilage cells called chondroblasts and is characterized by localized pain, swelling, and sometimes joint stiffness or limited range of motion.
- Diagnosis involves imaging studies such as X-rays, CT scans, or MRI, followed by a biopsy to confirm the presence of chondroblastoma cells.
Treatment and Outcome
- Treatment typically consists of surgical curettage and bone grafting to fill the resulting cavity, with some cases requiring additional treatments like cryotherapy or phenol application to reduce recurrence risk 1.
- Intralesional curettage plus local adjuvants can obtain satisfactory outcome for chondroblastoma, with a mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score of 29.4 and no pulmonary metastasis or death associated with the disease at the last follow-up 1.
- The recurrence rate is approximately 4.3%, with a local recurrence-free survival rate of 97.7%, 96.2%, and 93.9% at one, two, and five years, respectively 1.
Important Considerations
- Early diagnosis and complete removal are important to prevent joint damage and reduce the risk of recurrence.
- Chondroblastoma can be locally aggressive, and its treatment should be strictly surgical, with a view to counteract the propagation into the joint or adjacent soft tissue, and diminish the recurrence rate 2.