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. 2021 Jun;103-B(6):1150-1154.
doi: 10.1302/0301-620X.103B6.BJJ-2020-1869.R1.

Is 2 mm a wide margin in high-grade conventional chondrosarcomas of the pelvis?

Vineet Kurisunkal  1 , Minna K Laitinen  2 , Yoichi Kaneuchi  1 , Bilal Kapanci  1 , Jonathan Stevenson  1 , Michael C Parry  1 , Aleksi Reito  3 , Tomohiro Fujiwara  1 , Lee M Jeys  1   4
Affiliations

Is 2 mm a wide margin in high-grade conventional chondrosarcomas of the pelvis?

Vineet Kurisunkal et al. Bone Joint J. 2021 Jun.

Abstract

Aims: Controversy exists as to what should be considered a safe resection margin to minimize local recurrence in high-grade pelvic chondrosarcomas (CS). The aim of this study is to quantify what is a safe margin of resection for high-grade CS of the pelvis.

Methods: We retrospectively identified 105 non-metastatic patients with high-grade pelvic CS of bone who underwent surgery (limb salvage/amputations) between 2000 and 2018. There were 82 (78%) male and 23 (22%) female patients with a mean age of 55 years (26 to 84). The majority of the patients underwent limb salvage surgery (n = 82; 78%) compared to 23 (22%) who had amputation. In total, 66 (64%) patients were grade 2 CS compared to 38 (36%) grade 3 CS. All patients were assessed for stage, pelvic anatomical classification, type of resection and reconstruction, margin status, local recurrence, distant recurrence, and overall survival. Surgical margins were stratified into millimetres: < 1 mm; > 1 mm but < 2 mm; and > 2 mm.

Results: The disease--specific survival (DSS) at five years was 69% (95% confidence interval (CI) 56% to 81%) and 51% (95% CI 31% to 70%) for grade 2 and 3 CS, respectively (p = 0.092). The local recurrence-free survival (LRFS) at five years was 59% (95% CI 45% to 72%) for grade 2 CS and 42% (95% CI 21% to 63%) for grade 3 CS (p = 0.318). A margin of more than 2 mm was a significant predictor of increased LRFS (p = 0.001). There was a tendency, but without statistical significance, for a > 2 mm margin to be a predictor of improved DSS. Local recurrence (LR) was a highly significant predictor of DSS, analyzed in a competing risk model (p = 0.001).

Conclusion: Obtaining wide margins in the pelvis remains challenging for high-grade pelvic CS. On the basis of our study, we conclude that it is necessary to achieve at least a 2 mm margin for optimal oncological outcomes in patients with high-grade CS of the pelvis. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2021;103-B(6):1150-1154.

Keywords: Chondrosarcoma; High-grade; Margins; Pelvis.

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