Treatment of low-grade chondrosarcoma:

Orthopaedic tumors: What problems are we solving, and are universities and major medical centers doing enough?

Little has been published about the complexity of orthopaedic tumors compared to others tumors. The current study in the literature treated this problem in terms of classification, surgical intervention and impact on the patient. In this article, factors risks of tumors will be we identified. A strategy based on three dimensional simulations will be explained in order to improve the clinical trials.

Intralesional Versus Wide Resection of Low-Grade Chondrosarcomas of the Hand

PURPOSE

To report our experience with intralesional curettage (resection with positive margins) and amputation (resection with negative margins) of low-grade chondrosarcomas (LCS) of the hand.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Skeletally mature patients treated surgically for LCS of the hand at our institutions were reviewed. Demographics and oncological history were collected. Results of the entire cohort and by treatment modality were analyzed radiographically, functionally (strength, Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand measure), cosmetically, and oncologically (recurrence, Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score, metastasis, and mortality rates).

RESULTS

Seventeen cases in 16 patients were identified. Nine patients were women. Average age at surgery was 43 years (range, 20-80 years). Mean follow-up was 18 years (range, 9-23 years). Six of the 17 lesions treated at different institutions with intralesional procedures presented as recurrent disease. We treated 3 with a repeat intralesional procedure and the remaining with wide resection. Recurrence incidence was the same in both groups. The remaining 11 new-onset cases were treated with intralesional procedures (6) or wide resections (5). One of the 6 tumors treated with an intralesional procedure recurred. None treated with wide resection recurred. Recurrence incidence combining new- onset and recurrent disease after intralesional procedures was 22% versus 13% for wide resections. Average grip strength was 37 kg (range, 21-55 kg), and pinch strength was 7.6 kg (range, 4.5-12.5 kg). Mean Disabilities of the Arm, Shoulder, and Hand score was 2 (range, 0-10). There were no wound complications, and appearance was satisfactory in most cases (visual analog scale score, > 8). Average Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score was 29 points (range, 21-30 points). No patients presented with metastatic disease or died because of LCS.

CONCLUSIONS

Intralesional resections aiming to preserve function are safe, recognizing that more than 1 procedure may be required. Amputation also plays a role with excellent functional outcome in cases in which severe joint deformity or involvement of soft tissues and neurovascular structures interferes with function.

TYPE OF STUDY/LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Therapeutic IV.

Intralesional curettage and cementation for low-grade chondrosarcoma of long bones: retrospective study and literature review

Background

Various treatment strategies for low-grade chondrosarcomas with variable outcomes have been reported in the literature. The aim of this study was to assess the oncological and functional outcomes associated with intralesional curettage followed by adjuvant therapy comprising high-speed burring, thermal cauterization, and bone cementation with polymethylmethacrylate.

Methods

We performed a retrospective review of 21 consecutive patients with intramedullary low-grade chondrosarcoma of long bones treated by intralesional curettage and adjuvant therapy comprising high-speed burring, thermal cauterization, and cementation at our institution from 2007 to 2012.

Results

The average age of the patients was 48.7 (range, 18–71) years. There were 7 male and 14 female patients. The mean follow-up period was 58.4 (range, 26–85) months after surgery. The treated lesions were located in the proximal humerus (n =10), proximal tibia (n =6), and distal femur (n =5). At the average follow-up time point of 58.4 (range, 26–85) months, no patient had developed local recurrence and no distant metastases were observed. The average Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score among all 21 patients was 95% (84–100).

Conclusions

The combination of intralesional curettage, application of high-speed burring, thermal cauterization, and cementation is an effective treatment strategy for low-grade intramedullary chondrosarcoma of long bones. Excellent oncological and functional results can be obtained.

Clinical outcome of central conventional chondrosarcoma

INTRODUCTION

Aim of this study was to analyze (1) survival, local recurrence (LR), and metastasis rates between the three histological tumor grades; (2) whether type of treatment and tumor site influenced prognosis for each histologic grade.

METHODS

We retrospectively studied 296 patients with central conventional chondrosarcomas (CS) (87 grade 1, 162 grade 2, and 47 grade 3). The femur was the most common site (91 cases), followed by the pelvis (82) and other less frequent sites. Type of surgery was related with histologic grade. Margins were wide in 222 cases, marginal in 23, and intralesional in 51 cases.

RESULTS

At a mean of 7 years, 201 patients remained continuously NED, 33 were NED after treatment of relapse, 15 were AWD, 35 were died of disease, and 12 of other causes. Survival was 92% at 5 years and 84% at 10 years, significantly influenced by histological grading. In grade 3 CS, two factors influenced survival: type of surgery (resection vs. amputation, P = 0.051) and site (P = 0.039). The two significant factors lost their significance at multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

Central conventional CS with low/intermediate grade has a good prognosis, while high-grade tumors have poor outcome. Tumor relapses are strictly related with histologic grade.

Extended intralesional treatment versus resection of low-grade chondrosarcomas

The need for segmental resection versus intralesional treatment of low-grade chondrosarcomas of the appendicular skeleton remains controversial. We hypothesized extended intralesional treatment would equally control malignant disease but with improved functional outcomes and decreased postoperative complications. We retrospectively reviewed 31 patients with 32 Grade I intracompartmental chondrosarcomas of the long bones of the appendicular skeleton treated with either resection (15 lesions) or extended intralesional curetting (17) at a minimum followup of 2 years (median, 55 months; range, 24-203 months). Lesions were larger and median followup was longer in the resection cohort. One local recurrence developed in each treatment cohort and neither transitioned to a higher grade of tumor. No patient had metastases develop or died of disease. The mean final Musculoskeletal Tumor Society functional scores were greater after extended intralesional versus resection treatment (29.5 versus 25.1). Complications were observed more frequently after resection and reconstruction (seven of 15) as compared with extended intralesional treatment (one of 17). Extended intralesional treatment of Grade I intracompartmental chondrosarcomas of the long bones of the appendicular skeleton therefore appears safe with improved functional scores and decreased complications versus segmental resection and reconstruction.

LEVEL OF EVIDENCE

Level III, therapeutic study. See the Guidelines for Authors for a complete description of levels of evidence.

Outcome of intralesional curettage for low-grade chondrosarcoma of long bones

BACKGROUND

Different treatment strategies for low-grade chondrosarcomas are reported in the literature with variable outcomes. The aim of this study was to assess the oncological and functional outcomes associated with intralesional curettage and cementation of the lesion as a treatment strategy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We performed a retrospective review of 39 consecutive patients with intramedullary low-grade chondrosarcoma of long bones treated by intralesional curettage and cementation at our institution between 1999 and 2005.

RESULTS

There were 10 males and 29 females with a mean age of 55.5 years (32-82), and a mean follow-up of 5.1 years (3-8.7). Local recurrence occurred in two patients (5%) within the first two years following index surgery. Both were treated by re-curettage and cementation of the resultant defects. A second local recurrence developed a year later in one of these two patients, for which a further curettage followed by local liquid nitrogen treatment was performed. Overall, there were no cases of post-operative complications or metastases. The patients were assessed using the Musculoskeletal Tumour Society scoring system (MSTS) to determine limb function. The average score achieved was 94% (79-100%).

CONCLUSION

Intralesional curettage is an effective treatment strategy for low-grade intramedullary chondrosarcoma of long bones, with excellent oncological and functional results. Careful case selection with stringent clinical and radiographic follow-up is recommended.

Does local recurrence impact survival in low-grade chondrosarcoma of the long bones?

We hypothesized local recurrence of Grade 1 chondrosarcoma in the long bones of the extremity negatively influences survival. To explore that notion, we retrospectively reviewed 164 patients treated surgically for Grade 1 chondrosarcoma of the long bones. Local recurrence occurred in 21 (13%) patients. Four patients had progression of tumor grade on recurrence, and six patients had more than one local recurrence. Seven of the 21 patients with local recurrences had metastasis. Six of the 21 patients with local recurrences died secondary to chondrosarcoma. Local recurrence, progression of grade at recurrence, and distant metastases all were associated with a decrease in overall survival. The difference in survival was not apparent until after 5 years and was more pronounced after 10 years. Recurrence may be regarded as a declaration of an aggressive phenotype and should be treated as such.