Radiologic follow-up of untreated enchondroma and atypical cartilaginous tumors in the long bones

Radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of atypical cartilaginous tumours in the long bones: lessons learned from our experience

BACKGROUND

Surgery is the cornerstone of treatment of symptomatic cartilaginous neoplasms. We previously studied the application of radiofrequency ablation of atypical cartilaginous tumours in the long bones. The purpose of the present study was to investigate the additional effect of placing multiple needles and a longer procedure duration on the proportion of completely ablated tumours. Post-ablation MRI findings and the occurrence of complications were also assessed.

METHODS

We prospectively included 24 patients with atypical cartilaginous tumours in the long bones. Patients underwent CT-guided radiofrequency ablation followed by curettage with adjuvant phenolisation 3 months later, retrieving material assessed for viable tumour. Before curettage, gadolinium-enhanced MRI was performed to check for residual tumour. The occurrence of complications was noted.

RESULTS

Complete tumour ablation was achieved in 17 out of 24 patients (71%). Complete ablation was achieved in 5 of the 6 cases (83%) when multiple needles were used in tumours ≥30 mm. There was incomplete ablation in 8% of patients. Post-ablation gadolinium-enhanced MRI findings agreed with the histological results in 17 out of 23 cases and there was a negative predictive value of 83%. One patient suffered a fracture after radiofrequency ablation.

CONCLUSION

Radiofrequency ablation could be an alternative to curettage when treating atypical cartilaginous tumours in the long bones. It was shown that multiple needle placement in addition to longer duration of the ablation procedure is an effective measure in achieving complete ablation in tumours ≥30 mm. Gadolinium-enhanced MRI has a negative predictive value of 83% and could guide post-ablation follow-up.

Surgical therapy of benign and low-grade malignant intramedullary chondroid lesions of the distal femur: intralesional resection and bone cement filling with or without osteosynthesis

Surgical treatment of benign and low-grade malignant intramedullary chondroid lesions at the distal femur is not well analyzed compared to higher-grade chondrosarcomas. Localization at the distal femur offers high biomechanical risks requiring sophisticated treatment strategy, but scientific guidelines are missing. We therefore wanted to analyze a series of equally treated patients with intralesional resection and bone cement filling with and without additional osteosynthesis. Twenty-two consecutive patients could be included with intralesional excision and filling with polymethylmethacrylate bone cement alone (n = 10) or with compound bone cement osteosynthesis using a locking compression plate (n = 12). Clinical and radiological outcome was retrospectively evaluated including tumor recurrences, complications, satisfaction, pain, and function. Mean follow-up was 55 months (range 7–159 months). Complication rate was generally high with lesion-associated fractures both in the osteosynthesis group (n = 2) and in the non-osteosynthesis group (n = 2). All fractures occurred in lesions that reached the diaphysis. No fractures were found in meta-epiphyseal lesions. No tumor recurrence was found until final follow-up. Clinical outcome was good to excellent for both groups, but patients with additional osteosynthesis had significantly longer surgery time, more blood loss, longer postoperative stay in the hospital, more complications, more pain, less satisfaction, and worse functional outcome. Intralesional resection strategy was oncologically safe without local recurrences but revealed high risk of biomechanical complications if the lesion reached the diaphysis with an equal fracture rate no matter whether osteosynthesis was used or not. Additional osteosynthesis significantly worsened final clinical outcome and had more overall complications. This study may help guide surgeons to avoid overtreatment with additional osteosynthesis after curettage and bone cement filling of intramedullary lesions of the distal femur. Meta-epiphyseal lesions will need additional osteosynthesis rarely, contrary to diaphyseal lesions with considerable cortical thinning.

Enchondromas and atypical cartilaginous tumors at the proximal humerus treated with intralesional resection and bone cement filling with or without osteosynthesis: retrospective analysis of 42 cases with 6 years mean follow-up

Background

Enchondromas and atypical cartilaginous tumors (ACT) are often located at the proximal humerus. Most lesions can be followed conservatively, but surgical resection may alleviate pain, avoid pathological fractures, and prevent transformation into higher grade chondrosarcomas. Rigorous intralesional resection and filling with polymethylmethacrylate bone cement has been proposed for enchondromas but also for ACT, as an alternative for extralesional resection. We intended to analyze radiological, clinical, and functional outcome of this strategy and compare bone cement without osteosynthesis to bone cement compound osteosynthesis, which has not been analyzed so far.

Methods

We retrospectively analyzed 42 consecutive patients (mean follow-up 73 months; range 8–224) after curettage and bone cement filling with or without osteosynthesis. Exclusion criteria were Ollier’s disease and cancellous bone filling. Twenty-five patients only received bone cement. Seventeen patients received additional proximal humerus plate for compound osteosynthesis to increase stability after curettage. Demographics and radiological and clinical outcome were analyzed including surgery time, blood loss, hospitalization, recurrences, and complications. An additional telephone interview at the final follow-up assessed postoperative satisfaction, pain, and function in the quick disabilities of the arm, shoulder, and hand (DASH) score and the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society (MSTS) score. Statistics included the Student T tests, Mann-Whitney U tests, and chi-square tests.

Results

No osteosynthesis compared to compound osteosynthesis showed smaller tumors (4.2 (± 1.5) cm versus 6.6 (± 3.0) cm; p = 0.005) and smaller bone cement fillings after curettage (5.7 (± 2.1) cm versus 9.6 (± 3.2) cm; p = 0.0001). A score evaluating preoperative scalloping and soft-tissue extension did not significantly differ (1.9 (± 0.9) versus 2.0 (± 1.0); rating scale 0–4; p = 0.7). Both groups showed high satisfaction (9.2 (± 1.5) versus 9.2 (± 0.9); p = 0.5) and low pain (1.0(±1.7) versus 1.9(±1.8); p = 0.1) in a rating scale from 0 to 10. Clinical and functional outcome was excellent for both groups in the DASH score (6.0 (± 11.8) versus 11.0 (± 13.2); rating scale 0–100; p = 0.2) and the MSTS score (29.0 (± 1.7) versus 28.7 (± 1.1); rating scale 0–30; p = 0.3). One enchondroma recurrence was found in the group without osteosynthesis. Complications (one fracture and one intra-articular screw) were only detected after osteosynthesis. Osteosynthesis had longer surgery time (70 (± 21) min versus 127 (± 22) min; p < 0.0001), more blood loss (220 (± 130) ml versus 460 (± 210) ml; p < 0.0001), and longer stay in the hospital (6 (± 2) days versus 8 (± 2) days; p = 0.004).

Conclusions

Intralesional tumor resection was oncologically safe and clinically successful with or without osteosynthesis. Osteosynthesis did not reduce the risk for fracture but was more invasive.

Magnetic resonance imaging follow-up of chondroid tumors: regression vs. progression

OBJECTIVE

To present magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) evidence of the regression or progression of chondroid tumors and to investigate whether MRI can be used to predict the evolution of chondroid tumors.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Twenty-one patients with enchondromas or atypical cartilaginous tumors who had undergone extremity MRI at least twice with a minimum 12-month interval between the MRIs were enrolled in this study. The diagnosis was based on the radiography and MRI findings. We classified the tumors into the following three groups according to changes between the MRIs: no change (NC), progression (P), and regression (R). We assessed the initial MRI features, including anatomical location, size, endosteal scalloping, peritumoral edema, fat entrapment, and direction of progression or regression. Nineteen of the 21 patients had contrast-enhanced images, and we analyzed the presence of atypical lobular enhancement against typical peripheral or septal enhancement.

RESULTS

The R group comprised 11 cases (52%), the P group comprised five cases (24%), and the NC group comprised five cases (24%). None of the MRI features showed statistically significant differences among the groups. Atypical lobular enhancement was observed in the R (6 of 10, 60%) and NC (2 of 5, 40%) groups but not in the P group (0 of 4, 0%), although these differences were not statistically significant.

CONCLUSIONS

Chondroid tumors can either regress or progress in the MRI follow-up. Atypical lobular enhancement was seen only in stable or regressing tumors.

Chondrosarcoma: A Rare Misfortune in Aging Human Cartilage? The Role of Stem and Progenitor Cells in Proliferation, Malignant Degeneration and Therapeutic Resistance

Unlike other malignant bone tumors including osteosarcomas and Ewing sarcomas with a peak incidence in adolescents and young adults, conventional and dedifferentiated chondrosarcomas mainly affect people in the 4th to 7th decade of life. To date, the cell type of chondrosarcoma origin is not clearly defined. However, it seems that mesenchymal stem and progenitor cells (MSPC) in the bone marrow facing a pro-proliferative as well as predominantly chondrogenic differentiation milieu, as is implicated in early stage osteoarthritis (OA) at that age, are the source of chondrosarcoma genesis. But how can MSPC become malignant? Indeed, only one person in 1,000,000 will develop a chondrosarcoma, whereas the incidence of OA is a thousandfold higher. This means a rare coincidence of factors allowing escape from senescence and apoptosis together with induction of angiogenesis and migration is needed to generate a chondrosarcoma. At early stages, chondrosarcomas are still assumed to be an intermediate type of tumor which rarely metastasizes. Unfortunately, advanced stages show a pronounced resistance both against chemo- and radiation-therapy and frequently metastasize. In this review, we elucidate signaling pathways involved in the genesis and therapeutic resistance of chondrosarcomas with a focus on MSPC compared to signaling in articular cartilage (AC).