PURPOSE: Clear cell chondrosarcoma may have a benign appearance even on a magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Hence, it can be confused with benign bone tumors, such as a giant cell tumor or chondroblastoma. The aim of our study was to document the doctorassociated diagnostic errors in patients with clear cell chondrosarcoma and oncologic outcomes of these lesions, which were misdiagnosed as benign bone tumors. MATERIALS AND METHODS: We identified 10 patients who were diagnosed with and treated for clear cell chondrosarcoma between January 1996 and December 2014. One patient was excluded due to insufficient clinical data. We then reviewed their data regarding age, gender, symptom onset, tumor location, initial imaging diagnosis, and associated previous treatment. We examined the errors of surgeons and pathologists with respect to patient and tumor characteristics. We also analyzed treatment delay, time to local recurrence, metastasis, follow-up duration, and the oncologic outcome. RESULTS: The initial presumptive diagnosis based on MRIs for all 9 patients was benign bone tumor. Among 8 patients who underwent inappropriate procedure, half of them were diagnosed as clear cell chondrosarcoma immediately after the curettage. As for the remaining 4 patients, the surgeon did not send any tissue samples to a pathologist for a definite diagnosis in three patients and a pathologist made an incorrect diagnosis in one patient. We performed an appropriate surgery on all patients with a wide surgical margin. The average treatment delay was 27 months (range, 0–127 months), and the average follow-up duration was 65 months (range, 13–164 months). One patient had local recurrence after 12 months. Metastatic disease developed in 2 patients with a median time to definitive treatment of 24 months (12–37 months). Ten-year overall survival of patients with clear cell chondrosarcoma was 78%, and two patients died due to disease progression. CONCLUSION: Misdiagnosis of clear cell chondrosacroma as a benign bone tumor is not uncommon, even for experienced orthopaedic oncologists, resulting in definite curative surgery without biopsy. An inappropriate primary treatment may increase the risk of local recurrence and metastasis. Therefore, a proper subsequent surgery is mandatory for patients with clear cell chondrosarcoma who received inadvertent curettage.
Biopsy ; Chondroblastoma ; Chondrosarcoma ; Curettage ; Diagnosis ; Diagnostic Errors ; Disease Progression ; Follow-Up Studies ; Giant Cell Tumors ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Neoplasm Metastasis ; Recurrence ; Surgeons

Adult ; Bone Cysts, Aneurysmal ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Bone Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Chondroblastoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Female ; Humans ; Male ; Talus ; surgery ; Young Adult

Chondroblastoma ; pathology ; Chondroma ; pathology ; Chondrosarcoma ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Cricoid Cartilage ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Humans ; Laryngeal Neoplasms ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Laryngectomy ; Lymph Node Excision ; Male ; Middle Aged ; Osteoblastoma ; pathology ; Osteosarcoma ; pathology ; S100 Proteins ; metabolism ; Sarcoma, Clear Cell ; metabolism ; pathology ; surgery ; Vimentin ; metabolism

An osteolytic lesion with a small central area of mineralization and sclerotic borders was discovered incidentally in the clivus on the cone-beam computed tomography (CBCT) of a 27-year-old male patient. This benign appearance indicated a primary differential diagnosis of non-aggressive lesions such as fibro-osseous lesions and arrested pneumatization. Further, on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), the lesion showed a homogenously low T1 signal intensity with mild internal enhancement after post-gadolinium and a heterogeneous T2 signal intensity. These signal characteristics might be attributed to the fibrous tissues, chondroid matrix, calcific material, or cystic component of the lesion; thus, chondroblastoma and chondromyxoid fibroma were added to the differential diagnosis. Although this report was limited by the lack of final diagnosis and the patient lost to follow-up, the incidental skull base finding would be important for interpreting the entire volume of CBCT by a qualified oral and maxillofacial radiologist.
Adult ; Chondroblastoma ; Cone-Beam Computed Tomography* ; Cranial Fossa, Posterior ; Diagnosis ; Diagnosis, Differential ; Fibroma ; Humans ; Incidental Findings ; Lost to Follow-Up ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Skull Base ; Skull Base Neoplasms

A 29-year-old woman complained of a 3-month history of left knee pain without trauma history. X-ray showed a well-defined osteolytic lesion with a sclerotic margin in the patella and magnetic resonance imaging showed T1-low and T2-high signal intensity with different fluid level. Our impression was an aneurysmal bone cyst. At surgery, the lesion was a blood-filled cystic cavity, surrounded by a gray or brownish tissue. Hemorrhagic soft tissues with recognizable bone fragments were observed. Curettage and autogenous bone graft was done. Microscopically, sheets of tumor cells were intermingled with some areas of eosinophilic chondroid matrix. The tumor cells showed oval-shaped nuclei with moderate eosinophilic cytoplasm. Several multinucleated giant cells and blood filled cystic cavities were observed. The final diagnosis was a chondroblastoma with a secondary aneurysmal bone cyst. At the post-operative 1.5-year follow-up, grafted bones were well incorporated radiographically and there were no recurrent evidence or any other abnormal symptoms.
Adult ; Aneurysm ; Bone Cysts ; Chondroblastoma ; Curettage ; Cytoplasm ; Diagnosis ; Eosinophils ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Giant Cells ; Humans ; Knee ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Patella ; Transplants

INTRODUCTIONThis study aimed to evaluate radiological findings in patients with chondroblastoma (CB) in tubular and non-tubular bones (NTBs).

METHODSWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients with CB. Data collected included patients' gender and age, type, size and location of bone involved, and imaging findings regarding border, lobulation, calcification, trabeculation, cortical expansion and destruction, periosteal reaction, soft tissue component and fractures. Magnetic resonance imaging and/or multidetector computed tomography were used to determine the presence of any internal cystic space or secondary aneurysmal bone cyst that may have affected the radiological appearance of CB.

RESULTSAll 31 lesions (18 tubular bones, 13 NTBs) exhibited geographic bone destruction and did not involve the adjacent joints. Univariate analysis showed that NTB lesions were found in older patients and were associated with thin trabeculation (p < 0.01) and well-defined margins (p < 0.05), whereas tubular bone lesions correlated with thick trabeculation and partially ill-defined margins. On multivariate analysis, age and type of bone involvement were significantly correlated. An increase in age by one year reduced the risk of having tubular bone involvement by about 27% when compared with NTBs (p = 0.011). Thin trabeculation was also significantly correlated with NTB lesions.

CONCLUSIONAge was the most significant parameter, as increased age was found to reduce the risk of tubular bone involvement. Patients with NTB lesions were significantly older than those with tubular bone lesions. Based on imaging alone, thin trabeculation showed significant correlation with CB occurring in NTBs on both univariate and multivariate analyses.

Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Cysts, Aneurysmal ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Bone Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Bone and Bones ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; Child ; Chondroblastoma ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; Female ; Humans ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Multidetector Computed Tomography ; Multivariate Analysis ; Reproducibility of Results ; Retrospective Studies ; Young Adult

PURPOSE: Primary bone tumors of hindfoot are uncommon compared with other locations, and there have been few large-group studies. This study was designed to analyze the characteristics and the clinical results of the primary bone tumors of hindfoot. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Forty five cases in 44 patients who have been diagnosed from 1989 to 2011 were reviewed. The minimum follow-up period was 1 year. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records and images. RESULTS: Twenty six cases were male and 18 cases were female. Mean follow-up period was 33.1 months and mean age was 25.1 years. Forty four cases were benign and 1 case was malignant. Thirty six cases occurred in calcaneus and 9 cases were in talus. The most common benign bone tumor was simple bone cyst (20 cases), followed by intraosseous lipoma (12 cases), and chondroblastoma (4 cases). In calcaneus, there were 18 cases of simple bone cyst, and 12 cases of intrasosseous lipoma. In talus, there were 3 cases of chondroblastoma, 2 cases of simple bone cyst, and 2 cases of intraossesous ganglion. Many patients with hindfoot bone tumors presented with pain, but some were found accidentally. Patients received surgical procedures, such as curettage and bone graft, open reduction and internal fixation, tumor resection, and below knee amputation. CONCLUSION: Primary bone tumors of hindfoot are rare and can be misdiagnosed as ankle sprain or contusion. Although most are benign, malignant tumors cannot be ruled out, so early diagnosis and appropriate treatment is important.
Animals ; Ankle ; Bone Cysts ; Calcaneus ; Chondroblastoma ; Contusions ; Curettage ; Early Diagnosis ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Ganglion Cysts ; Humans ; Knee ; Lipoma ; Male ; Medical Records ; Retrospective Studies ; Sprains and Strains ; Talus ; Transplants

Chondroblastoma of the patella, rare occurred in patellar,is a kind of an uncommon benign bone tumor. Compared with giant cell tumor, the morbidity of chondroblastoma is lower. Meanwhile, its clinical manifestations are various, and images are very complicated. Therefore, the understanding of this kind of tumors may be limited even to the orthopedist. The differences of patellar chondroblastoma between other tumor in X-ray, CT and MRI is a spot in recent years. Sometimes patellar chondroblastoma coexists with aneurysmal bone cyst, which is a challenge to obtain an accurate pathological and radiological diagnosis. For the treatment, curettage and bone grafting is one the most popular method, but whether to perform a biopsy before surgery still remain controversy. Some new technique still has an unknown prospect for the treatment such as radiofrequency ablation.
Bone Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Chondroblastoma ; diagnosis ; surgery ; Humans ; Patella ; surgery

Adolescent ; Bone Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Chondroblastoma ; diagnosis ; pathology ; surgery ; Humans ; Male ; Patella ; pathology

To investigate the clinical characteristics of chondroblastoma with an emphasis on lesions located in the long bone diaphysis, we reviewed the clinical data of 7 patients with histologically proven chondroblastoma treated in Tianjin Medical University Cancer Hospital and Fudan University Cancer Hospital between January 1995 and May 2009. There were two rare cases of chondroblastoma in the long bone diaphysis. One patient with a lesion in the tibial diaphysis underwent intralesional curettage and bone grafting, and the postoperative bone function was measured as excellent according to the Enneking scoring system. The patient was still alive upon follow-up at 60 months. The other patient with a lesion in the humeral diaphysis underwent resection, and the postoperative bone function was excellent at 48 months, at which there was no evidence of recurrence or metastasis. Thus, except for the distinctive site of the long bone diaphysis, which made diagnosis difficult, the patients' ages, symptoms, X-ray and CT images, treatment, and prognosis were in accordance with typical lesions in the epiphysis and metaphysis. The diagnosis of chondroblastoma in the long bone diaphysis significantly depends on histopathologic characteristics.
Adolescent ; Adult ; Bone Neoplasms ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Bone Transplantation ; methods ; Chondroblastoma ; diagnosis ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Curettage ; methods ; Diaphyses ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Humerus ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Magnetic Resonance Imaging ; Male ; Tibia ; diagnostic imaging ; pathology ; surgery ; Tomography, X-Ray Computed ; Young Adult