What are the other Names for this Condition? (Also known as/Synonyms)

• Codman's Tumor

What is Chondroblastoma? (Definition/Background Information)

• Chondroblastoma is a rare and benign, but locally-aggressive, bone tumor that affects the long bones of the body. It accounts for less than 1% of all bone tumors
• A vast majority of the tumors are small and asymptomatic. The bones commonly affected by the tumor include the humerus (upper arm bone), femur (thighbone), and tibia (shinbone). Rarely, the talus and the calcaneus (bones of the foot) are involved
• Some individuals with the tumor have mild pain that progressively gets worse. The pain can last from several weeks to even a couple of years. Usually, the individual has symptoms for about 20 months before medical attention is generally sought
• Occasionally, Chondroblastoma can cause pain and restricted mobility in the affected limb, particularly when the bones of the hands or feet are affected. Large tumors are more likely to cause bone pain, bone swelling, bone deformities, and can also weaken the bone resulting in fracture of the involved bone (pathologic fracture)
• A significant complication of Chondroblastoma is the spread of the tumor to near and distant locations (metastasis), which can adversely affect the prognosis. These metastatic tumors are not known to respond to therapy. However, such metastatic tumors are very rare
• The treatment measures may involve a ‘wait and watch’ approach, or surgical excision, when needed. In most cases, the prognosis of Chondroblastoma is excellent; although, in some individuals, the tumor may recur within a few months to after several years

Who gets Chondroblastoma? (Age and Sex Distribution)

• Majority of the individuals affected by Chondroblastoma are children and young adults, who are less than 20 years of age
• Both male and female genders are affected; Chondroblastoma is more common in males than in females with a male-female ratio of 2:1

What are the Risk Factors for Chondroblastoma? (Predisposing Factors)

• Presently, no risk factors are evident for Chondroblastoma

It is important to note that having a risk factor does not mean that one will get the condition. A risk factor increases one’s chances of getting a condition compared to an individual without the risk factors. Some risk factors are more important than others.

Also, not having a risk factor does not mean that an individual will not get the condition. It is always important to discuss the effect of risk factors with your healthcare provider.

What are the Causes of Chondroblastoma? (Etiology)

The exact cause and mechanism of Chondroblastoma formation is unknown.

What are the Signs and Symptoms of Chondroblastoma?

A vast majority of individuals with Chondroblastoma have mild pain that progressively tends to get worse. The pain can last from several weeks to up to even two years. The tissues surrounding the tumor may show swelling. If the tumor is large enough to affect the nearby joint, then restriction in mobility of the affected joint maybe seen.

Some of the other signs and symptoms of Chondroblastoma include:

• Tenderness in the affected region
• Presence of a palpable mass
• Muscle atrophy
• Fluid accumulation around the affected joint
• If the bones of the skull are involved, then an individual may experience the following:
  • Ringing in the ears
  • Dizziness
  • Hearing loss

How is Chondroblastoma Diagnosed?

Chondroblastoma may be diagnosed by the following observations and tests:

• X-ray of the affected bone
• MRI of the affected bone
• CT-scan of the affected region
• Radionuclide bone scans: Bone scan can help rule out fractures and bone infections
• A differential diagnosis to eliminate other tumor types should be considered before arriving at a definitive diagnosis. The differential diagnosis may include: 
  • Giant cell tumor of bone
  • Chondromyxoid fibroma
  • Aneurysmal bone cyst
  • Clear cell chondrosarcoma

Many clinical conditions may have similar signs and symptoms. Your healthcare provider may perform additional tests to rule out other clinical conditions to arrive at a definitive diagnosis.

What are the possible Complications of Chondroblastoma?

In many cases, there are no significant complications observed from Chondroblastoma.

• Infection of the surgical site may occur in some individuals, who have undergone surgery to remove the tumor
• Recurrent Chondroblastoma: In approximately 5% to 40% of the individuals, Chondroblastoma can recur after its surgical removal. In such cases, re-excision of the tumor may be performed
• In very rare cases, Chondroblastoma can be extremely aggressive resulting in metastasis. When this occurs, the most common location for metastasis is the lungs. The liver, soft tissues, skin and other bones may also be affected through metastasis

How is Chondroblastoma Treated?

• The treatment of Chondroblastoma is determined by a variety of factors including:
  • The individual’s age
  • Overall health condition
• Asymptomatic tumors may not require any treatment; close monitoring is often adequate. Reassuring the individual is also very helpful
• In symptomatic cases, when it causes bone pain, the tumor can be treated with bone curettage (tumor removal by scraping the bone)
• Large tumors may require bone grafting
• In a minority of cases, radiotherapy and chemotherapy may be required to treat the condition. Individuals, in whom the risk of the tumor becoming malignant is high, radiation therapy may be considered

How can Chondroblastoma be Prevented?

• Current medical research has not established a method of preventing Chondroblastoma
• Active research is being performed to explore the possibilities for treatment and prevention of this tumor type

What is the Prognosis of Chondroblastoma? (Outcomes/Resolutions)

• The prognosis of Chondroblastoma is excellent in majority of cases upon complete removal/bone curettage
• However, recurrences have been shown to occur between 5 months and 7 years following initial treatment. It is also estimated that less than 1% of the tumors metastasize/spread to other areas of the body
• In case of tumor metastasis, the prognosis of Chondroblastoma is mostly poor. Studies have shown that metastatic tumors do not respond to surgery, radiation, or chemotherapy

Additional and Relevant Useful Information for Chondroblastoma:

Please visit our Cancer & Benign Tumor Health Center for more physician-approved health information:

http://www.dovemed.com/diseases-conditions/cancer/