Abstract
Introduction
Chondroblastomas are rare bone tumours accounting for approximately 1% of all benign bone lesions. They occur in children and adolescents and are more frequent in males.
The conventional treatment for chondroblastomas is surgery, however, this can be difficult and disabling due to the apo- or epiphyseal location. Surgery is curative in most cases, but recurrence rates of 10%–35% have been reported in the literature. Radiofrequency ablation is well established in the treatment of osteoid osteomas and painful bone metastases. We report our experience with the use of radiofrequency ablation in the treatment of chondroblastomas.
Methods
Seven patients were identified from our Tumour database with biopsy proven chondroblastomas who were treated with Percutaneous CT Guided Radiofrequency Thermo coagulation.
Results
The tumour was successfully treated in all patients with no recurrences.
In two cases, complications occurred; infraction of a sub-articular chondroblastoma in one case and cartilage and bone damage in the unaffected compartment of a knee joint in the other.
Discussion
Radiofrequency thermocoagulation of chondroblastomas offers a minimally invasive alternative to open surgery. The risk of complications would appear lower than with open surgery. Multi-tined expandable electrode systems allow the treatment of large chondroblastomas.
