Radiofrequency ablation of chondroblastoma: procedure technique, clinical and MR imaging follow up of four cases.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of this study is to describe the procedure technique, clinical and imaging outcomes of patients treated with radiofrequency ablation for chondroblastoma.


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.


CONCLUSIONS
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.
Christie-Large
M
M
Department of Radiology, The Royal Orthopaedic Hospital Foundation Trust, Bristol Road South, Northfield, Birmingham, B31 2AP, UK.
Evans
N
N
Davies
A M
AM
James
S L J
SL
D000293:Adolescent; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D002804:Chondroblastoma / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D005260:Female; D005266:Femoral Neoplasms / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging / Q000379:methods*; D008297:Male; D015641:Radiography, Interventional; D013977:Tibia; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D016896:Treatment Outcome