Cytological diagnosis of chondroblastoma: diagnostic challenge for the cytopathologist

Abstract

Chondroblastoma is an uncommon osseous neoplasm that accounts for less than 1% of all bone tumours. It characteristically arises in the epiphysis or epimetaphyseal region of long bones and has been reported to affect people of all ages with slight male predilection. WHO has defined chondroblastoma as ‘a benign, cartilage-producing neoplasm usually arising in the epiphyses of skeletally immature patients’. The authors document the cytological features on fine-needle aspiration cytology of a chondroblastoma which appeared as a lytic lesion in the upper end of the right fibula, an uncommon site, in an 18-year-old male patient. X-ray feature combined with fine-needle aspiration cytology favoured the diagnosis of chondroblastoma, which was further confirmed by histopathological examination.

Clear‐cell chondrosarcomas: Fine‐needle aspiration cytology, radiological findings, and patient demographics of a rare entity

“…The cytomorphology of chondroblastomas has previously been described, including abundant cellular smears of polygonal cells with vacuolated cytoplasm and grooved nuclei mixed with cartilage, “chicken wire calcification” and chondroid background matrix. Benign giant cells are always present and frequently ample 12‐14 . In the preoperative evaluation, it is of importance to conclusively differentiate between CCCS and chondroblastoma, which we believe is possible on FNA material.…”

Chondroblastoma in the Distal Femur: A Case Report With Literature Review.

“…Chondroblastomas occur mostly in the second decade of life (1). Males are affectedmore often than females in a ratio of approximately 2 to 1 (9).…”

“…Males are affectedmore often than females in a ratio of approximately 2 to 1 (9). They usually arise from theepiphyseal plate or the epimetaphyseal region of long bones, although few primary metaphyseal or diaphyseal chondroblastomas have been reported (1). Bones that are most frequently involved are the proximal humerus, distal femur, proximal tibia and the iliac bones (10).…”

“…It characteristically arises in the epiphysis or epimetaphyseal region of long bones and has been reported to affect people of all ages with slight male predilection. The histogenesis of chondroblastomas is controversial, although cartilage stem cells or epiphyseal cartilage cells are presumed to be the cells of origin (1). It was first described as a -giant cell tumor with calcifications‖ by Kolodny in 1927, next as a -calcifying giant cell tumor‖ by Ewing in 1928 and as an -epiphyseal chondromatous giant cell tumor‖ by Codman in 1931 (2).…”

“…Although the clinical presentation is highly variable, local ± gradually increasing ± pain, soft tissue swelling and tenderness are the most frequent presenting complaints (5). The typical radiological finding is an eccentric osteolytic lesion, frequently accompanied by a thin sclerotic rim (1). The tumor is characterized histologically by the proliferation of chondroblasts along with areas of mature cartilage, giant cells, 986 and occasionally, secondary aneurysmal bone cyst formation (6).…”