Advances In Research On Chondroblastoma Of Bone

Chondroblastoma of bone is rare bone tumor, representing around 1% of all bone tumors and 3% of benignbone tumors. in 1931, Codman described an"epiphyseal chondromatous giant cell tumor of the proximal humerus."The term"benign chondroblastoma"was coined by Jaffe and Lichtenstein to describe a rare neoplasm with a predilection for the epiphyses of long bones, thus distinguishing it from the giantcell tumour of bone.It occurs predominantly in young people, more commonly in males. Predilection sites include proximal humeral, proximal femoral, distal femoral and proximal tibial, but it can be found in other bones too (skull, spine, tarsal bones, etc). Patients present with gradually increasing pain and local tenderness, followed by swelling and limitation of movement of the neighbouring joint. Radiographically, it appears as an ovoid lesion with thin sclerotic margin, located centrally or eccentrically in the epiphysis or apophysis. CT demonstrates similar findings, although endosteal changes and cortical penetration are more apparent. MR imaging demonstrates iso-and hypo-intense on T1WI and heterogeneous signals on T2WI. Histologically, the lesion is quite distinct from other cartilage-containing tumors; it shows well defined chondroblasts with benign-appearing nuclei, multinucleated giant cells, and a pattern of tiny calcific bodies that surround the cells and hence have been named"chicken-wire calcification". There is no accepted standard treatment for chondroblastoma. Curettage, either alone, combined with packing of the cavity with bone graft or polymethylmethacrylate, or with associated cryosurgery are described. Marginal resection and radiofrequency heat ablation are other options. Chemotherapy is not indicated for treatment of this tumor, and radiotherapy stimulates malignant alteration. A relatively high rate of recurrence (10 to 35 percent) has been reported in the past, and metastasis has been described but is extremely rare. Risk factors for the aggressive behavior of chondroblastoma have not been clearly defined. primary malignant chondroblastoma of bone is has been documented.