Radiofrequency ablation of chondroblastoma: procedure technique, clinical and MR imaging follow up of four cases

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study is to describe the procedure technique, clinical and imaging outcomes of patients treated with radiofrequency ablation for chondroblastoma.

Materials and methods: Four patients (female/male, 3:1; mean age, 13 years; age range; 9-16 years) underwent the procedure. All had pre-operative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and symptomatic, biopsy-proven chondroblastomas (two proximal femur, two proximal tibia). The lesion size ranged from 1.5 to 2.5 cm in maximal dimension (mean size, 1.8 cm). Bone access was gained with a Bonopty biopsy needle system (mean number of radiofrequency needle placements, 5; mean ablation time, 31 min).

Results: Clinical and MRI follow-up was available in all cases (mean, 12.25 months; range, 5-18 months). All patients reported resolution of symptoms at 2-6 weeks post ablation. At their most recent clinical follow-up, three patients remained completely asymptomatic with full return to normal activities and one patient had minor local discomfort (different pain pattern) that was not limiting activity. All four patients' follow-up MRI studies demonstrated resolution of the oedema pattern around the lesion and temporal evolution of the internal signal characteristics with fatty replacement.

Conclusion: Radiofrequency ablation for chondroblastoma provides an alternative to surgical curettage, and we have demonstrated both a clinical improvement in symptoms and the follow-up MRI appearances.