title: Adjuvant argon-based cryoablation for joint-preserving tumor resection in patients with juxta-articular osteosarcoma around the knee.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Opinion remains controversial as to whether joint-saving surgery could be safely performed in patients with juxta-articular osteosarcoma. The aim of this study was to assess the validity of adjuvant cryosurgery in joint salvage surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  We evaluated the oncological and functional outcomes of patients who underwent joint-sparing surgery in which argon-based cryoablation was employed to aid partial epiphysis-preserved tumor resection for osteosarcoma around the knee (7 in proximal tibia, 5 in distal femur).
  
  
  RESULTS
  The study included 12 patients (5 male, 7 female, mean age 15.8 years (11-24). At a mean follow-up of 48.4 months (38-61), lung metastasis occurred in three patients. Among these, one patient had died, one was alive with disease, and one had no evidence of disease after lobectomy. Histological examination of the resected specimens revealed no viable tumor at the osteotomy plane. There was no local recurrence in the residual epiphysis except one in soft tissue. The mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society functional score was 92.7%.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Argon-based cryosurgery is a reliable method of sterilizing the tumor in the epiphysis thus allowing safe joint-saving tumor resection possible in patients with juxta-articular osteosarcoma.
authors.affiliation: The Orthopaedic Department, Xi Jing Hospital Affiliated to the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, PR China. Electronic address: ljfmmu@sina.com.
authors.forename: Jing
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Li
authors.affiliation: The Orthopaedic Department, Xi Jing Hospital Affiliated to the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, PR China.
authors.forename: Zheng
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Guo
authors.affiliation: The Orthopaedic Department, Wuwei Cancer Hospital Affiliated to the Lanzhou University, Wuwei, Gansu Province, PR China.
authors.forename: Qianzi
authors.initials: Q
authors.lastname: Yang
authors.affiliation: The Orthopaedic Department, Xi Jing Hospital Affiliated to the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, PR China.
authors.forename: Chuanlei
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Ji
authors.affiliation: The Orthopaedic Department, Xi Jing Hospital Affiliated to the Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, PR China.
authors.forename: Zhen
authors.initials: Z
authors.lastname: Wang
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001128:Argon / Q000494:pharmacology*; D001859:Bone Neoplasms / Q000601:surgery*; D002648:Child; D003452:Cryosurgery / Q000379:methods*; D004838:Epiphyses / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery; D005260:Female; D005269:Femur / Q000473:pathology; D006801:Humans; D007719:Knee Joint / Q000601:surgery*; D008297:Male; D012516:Osteosarcoma / Q000601:surgery*; D013977:Tibia / Q000473:pathology; D055815:Young Adult
chemical_list: D001128:Argon
keywords: Cryoablation; Joint-salvage surgery; Knee; Osteosarcoma