Radiofrequency ablation of atypical cartilaginous tumors in long bones: a retrospective study

Application of microwave ablation assisted degradation therapy in surgical treatment of intramedullary chondrosarcoma of extremities

AIM

Clinical diagnosis and surgical treatment of chondrosarcoma (CS) are continuously improving. The purpose of our study is to evaluate the effectiveness of microwave ablation (MWA) assisted degradation therapy in the surgical treatment of intramedullary chondrosarcoma of the extremities, to provide a new reference and research basis for the surgical treatment of CS.

METHODS

We recruited 36 patients with intramedullary CS who underwent MWA assisted extended curettage. Preoperative patient demographics and clinical data were recorded. Surgery was independently assisted by a medical team. Patients were followed up strictly and evaluated for oncological prognosis, radiological results, limb joint function, pain, and complications.

RESULTS

We included 15 men and 21 women (mean age: 43.5 ± 10.1). The average length of the lesion was 8.1 ± 2.5 cm. Based on preoperative radiographic, clinical manifestations, and pathological results of puncture biopsy, 28 patients were preliminarily diagnosed with CS-grade I and eight patients with CS-grade II. No recurrence or metastasis occurred in the postoperative follow-up. The average Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score was 28.8 ± 1.0, significantly better than presurgery. Secondary shoulder periarthritis and abduction dysfunction occurred in early postoperative stage CS of the proximal humerus in some, but returned to normal after rehabilitation exercise. Secondary bursitis occurred at the knee joint in some due to the internal fixation device used in treatment; however, secondary osteoarthritis and avascular necrosis of the femoral head were not observed. Overall, oncological and functional prognoses were satisfactory.

CONCLUSIONS

The application of MWA assisted degradation therapy in intramedullary CS can achieve satisfactory oncology and functional prognosis, providing a new option for the limited treatment of CS.

Radio Frequency Ablation for the Treatment of Appendicular Skeleton Chondroblastoma: Is It an Excellent Alternative? Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Radio frequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive technique that has become recognized in clinical practice for treating chondroblastoma, although curettage with bone graft is the standard treatment. Chondroblastoma is a locally aggressive cartilaginous bone tumor, representing nearly 5% of benign bone tumors. Chondroblastoma shows a preference toward the epiphysis or apophysis of long bones, but it was also reported in vertebrae and flat bones. The management of chondroblastoma could be challenging due to the risk to injure the epiphyseal plate or difficult location. The aim of this study was to determine if RFA is a suitable alternative to curettage with bone graft for the treatment of chondroblastoma. Moreover, there will be an evaluation of RFA's effectiveness in terms of symptoms relief; we also define the proper size of the lesion to be treated with RFA, and discuss the complications after the procedure, including the recurrence rate. Furthermore, we review the best imaging method to evaluate the therapeutic response of RFA and for the detection of residual disease early after the ablation. A comprehensive PubMed and Google Scholar search followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis 2020 checklist guidelines. Ninety-seven patients were identified after reviewing the available full texts of nine articles. The results of the current review provide further evidence to support the use of RFA as an alternative option to surgery.

Computer 3D modeling of radiofrequency ablation of atypical cartilaginous tumours in long bones using finite element methods and real patient anatomy

BACKGROUND

Radiofrequency ablation (RFA) is a minimally invasive technique used for the treatment of neoplasms, with a growing interest in the treatment of bone tumours. However, the lack of data concerning the size of the resulting ablation zones in RFA of bone tumours makes prospective planning challenging, needed for safe and effective treatment.

METHODS

Using retrospective computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging data from patients treated with RFA of atypical cartilaginous tumours (ACTs), the bone, tumours, and final position of the RFA electrode were segmented from the medical images and used in finite element models to simulate RFA. Tissue parameters were optimised, and boundary conditions were defined to mimic the clinical scenario. The resulting ablation diameters from postoperative images were then measured and compared to the ones from the simulations, and the error between them was calculated.

RESULTS

Seven cases had all the information required to create the finite element models. The resulting median error (in all three directions) was -1 mm, with interquartile ranges from -3 to 3 mm. The three-dimensional models showed that the thermal damage concentrates close to the cortical wall in the first minutes and then becomes more evenly distributed.

CONCLUSIONS

Computer simulations can predict the ablation diameters with acceptable accuracy and may thus be utilised for patient planning. This could allow interventional radiologists to accurately define the time, electrode length, and position required to treat ACTs with RFA and make adjustments as needed to guarantee total tumour destruction while sparing as much healthy tissue as possible.

Simultaneous C-arm Computed Tomography-Guided Microwave Ablation and Cementoplasty in Patients with Painful Osteolytic Bone Metastases: A Single-center Experience

PURPOSE

To evaluate the clinical benefit of simultaneous percutaneous microwave ablation (PMA) and percutaneous cementoplasty (PC) for patients with painful osteolytic bone metastases under flat-detector C-arm computed tomography (CACT).

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Thirty patients (17 men and 13 women) with 42 osteolytic metastatic tumors were prospectively treated with PMA and PC simultaneously under CACT guidance. Technical success, major complications, local tumor control status, and daily morphine consumption were recorded. Visual analog scale, Oswestry disability index, and the short-form 36 questionnaire (SF-36, 8 domains) were used to evaluate pain, functional status, and quality of life (QoL), respectively.

RESULTS

The technical success rate was 100% without major complications, and local tumor control rates were 100% and 75% for lesion diameter ≤3 cm and >3 cm, respectively. Daily morphine consumption, visual analog scale, and Oswestry disability index improved significantly from the respective pretreatment values of 75 mg, 7.4, and 59.2 to 17.3 mg, 1.7, and 22.9 at 1 week; 8.5 mg, 1.4, and 6.7 at 4 weeks; and 5.3 mg, 1.3, and 9.2 at 12 weeks, respectively (p< 0.01). The QoL assessments at 4 weeks showed significant improvements in physical function, role physical, bodily pain, general health and vitality (p < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

Simultaneous PMA and PC under CACT guidance is effective to control pain and improve QoL in selective patients with painful osteolytic bone metastases.

Intra-articular hip joint osteoid osteoma: Challenging diagnosis and percutaneous radiofrequency ablation treatment

Atypical intra-articular osteoid osteoma can be difficult to diagnose and challenging to treat. We report a case of a right acetabular subchondral intra-articular osteoid osteoma in a young male patient which was initially diagnosed as femoroacetabular impingement due to its atypical clinical and radiological presentations. After fully working up the patient the lesion was successfully treated with percutaneous CT-guided low-power bipolar radiofrequency ablation using several per procedural articular cartilage thermal protective measures including intra-articular thermocouple, and continuous per procedural joint space cooling with Dextrose 5% solution. A precise RFA electrode placement, using the No-touch technique, and applying different passive and active thermal protective measures were helpful in avoiding collateral damage of the hip joint articular cartilages. atypical intra-articular osteoid osteomas necessitate pertinent correlation between the clinical and radiological presentations. As far as intra-articular or subchondral nidus ablation is concerned, thermal protective measures should be considered.

Image-guided Cryotherapy for Musculoskeletal Tumors

BACKGROUND

This article represents a review of the use of image-guided cryotherapy in the treatment of musculoskeletal tumor lesions. Cryotherapy is able to induce a lethal effect on cancer cells through direct and indirect mechanisms. In this manuscript, we combined our experience with that of other authors who have published on this topic in order to provide indications on when to use cryotherapy in musculoskeletal oncology.

DISCUSSION

Image-Guided percutaneous cryotherapy is a therapeutic method now widely accepted in the treatment of patients with musculoskeletal tumors. It can be used both for palliative treatments of metastatic bone lesions and for the curative treatment of benign bone tumors, such as osteoid osteoma or osteoblastoma. In the treatment of bone metastases, cryotherapy plays a major role in alleviating or resolving disease-related pain, but it has also been demonstrated that it can have a role in local disease control. In recent years, the use of cryotherapy has also expanded for the treatment of both benign and malignant soft tissue tumors.

CONCLUSION

Percutaneous cryotherapy can be considered a safe and effective technique in the treatment of benign and malignant musculoskeletal tumors. Cryotherapy can be considered the first option in benign tumor lesions, such as osteoid osteoma, and a valid alternative to radiofrequency ablation. In the treatment of painful bone metastases, it must be considered secondarily to other standard treatments (radiotherapy, bisphosphonate therapy, and chemotherapy) when they are no longer effective in controlling the disease or when they cannot be repeated (for example, radiotherapy).