Complete Information on Chondroblastoma (benign)

Chondroblastomas are rare epiphyseal bone tumors. It is found in the epiphysis of long bones, usually of the lower extremity. The tumor has a preference for males over females and the mean age of presentation is approximately 20 years old. The tumor may have behavior not normally associated with benign tumors including pulmonary metastases as well as local invasion of bone and soft tissue.

 The symptoms and signs of chondroblastomas include local pain, tenderness, swelling, and muscle wasting. Joint effusion occurs in approximately 30% of patients. It typically is mild and gradually progressive and initially may be attributed to a minor injury. If the lesion is juxta-articular, the patient may complain of joint swelling or diminished range of motion. Treatment of chondroblastoma is biopsy and curettage with possible use of adjuvant liquid nitrogen or phenol, or a mechanical burr.

Some treatments for this type of tumor are removing the part of the bone that the tumor is in, scraping out the infected area and put in bone graph material to replace the lost bone. Another treatment that is far less invasive and has less recovery time is radiofrequency ablation. Angiography may be used to create a vascular road map of the chondroblastoma for surgical planning, but the angiograms usually show no vascular abnormality. Radiation therapy has been employed in the treatment of chondroblastoma but has essentially no current role in its treatment. Prompt medical attention and aggressive therapy are important for the best prognosis.