Radiofrequency ablation of two femoral head chondroblastomas

Chondroblastoma: Radiofrequency Ablation—Alternative to Surgical Resection in Selected Cases

“…Perhaps this risk can be decreased through the use of simultaneous percutaneous augmentation. In a recent report, Petsas et al (15) followed ablation of two femoral head lesions with multi-tined probes with percutaneous placement of bone graft. They demonstrated healing at follow-up, with no collapse of the articular surface.…”

“…Since that time, to our knowledge, only two additional reports have been published (15,16). Because of the rarity of the tumor, it is difficult to accumulate substantial clinical experience.…”

Chondroblastoma of Bone in the Extremities

“…Although radiofrequency ablation has been reported as one option for the treatment of chondroblastoma in the literature [15][16][17]37 , the mainstay of treatment remains surgery. Specifically, meticulous curettage of the lesion followed by bone-grafting is the gold standard 13,21,38 .…”

“…However, resection is still an option for selected patients. There are also reports of the use of radiofrequency ablation [15][16][17] or radiation, alone or in combination with surgery, for the treatment of chondroblastomas 18,19 . Reported local recurrence rates vary from <10% to >30% 10,13,20,21 .…”

Treatment of bone tumours by radiofrequency thermal ablation

“…The first reported on four young patients and described an association between lesion size and articular collapse, which was observed in two of them [20]. The second described the avoidance of articular collapse by the combined use of RFTA and bone grafting [22]. The third reported that a patient with chondroblastoma at the greater tuberosity of the humerus was asymptomatic at 6 months [23].…”