Calcaneal Bone Tumors.

Bone tumors of the foot are an uncommon finding. Most tumors are found incidentally on imaging and are benign. Care must be taken although due to the aggressive nature of malignant bone tumors that can occur in the calcaneus. Malignant lesions will more commonly present with symptoms of pain and swelling. Often misdiagnosed as soft tissue injuries, it is critical to be able to diagnose and treat these lesions early. Imaging plays an important role with plain films and advanced imaging. Surgical treatments can range from curettage with grafting to amputation for more aggressive lesions.

Bone Tumors: Benign Bone Tumors.

Primary benign bone tumors are uncommon and most often affect children and young adults. They typically are detected incidentally on imaging, though some patients present with pain, swelling, or other symptoms. The four main categories of benign bone tumor are: bone-forming (eg, osteoid osteoma, osteoblastoma, fibrous dysplasia, enostosis), cartilage-forming (eg, osteochondroma, enchondroma), connective tissue, and vascular; the latter two are rare. A fifth category is idiopathic (eg, giant cell tumor, aneurysmal bone cyst, simple bone cyst). Osteochondromas are the most common, accounting for 30% to 35% of benign bone tumors. Giant cell tumors account for 20%, osteoblastomas for 14%, and osteoid osteomas for 12%. All others are less common. Diagnosis mainly is via imaging; biopsy rarely is required. Management varies with tumor type, location, symptoms, and risk of recurrence. Some (eg, enchondroma, osteochondroma, fibrous dysplasia, enostosis) typically are asymptomatic, and generally require no intervention. Others (eg, osteoid osteoma, aneurysmal bone cyst, simple bone cyst) can cause symptoms and require percutaneous ablation or surgery. Still others (eg, giant cell tumor, osteoblastoma) can be aggressive and require surgery and other therapies. Malignant transformation is rare for all benign bone tumors, but patients with these tumors should be monitored with serial imaging.

Diagnostic and Management Options of Osteoblastoma in the Spine.

BACKGROUND Osteoblastoma is a rare, benign, osteolytic neoplasm commonly found in the spine in early adulthood. Here, we review the clinical characteristics, radiographic findings, and surgical management of patients with spinal osteoblastoma. MATERIAL AND METHODS Thirteen patients with osteoblastoma who underwent surgery at our institute from June 2008 to November 2017 were enrolled in this study. The American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) impairment scale was used to assess neurological function. All patients were treated with either total excision or intralesional piecemeal excision without postoperative radiotherapy. Clinical efficacy was evaluated by visual analog scale (VAS) scores, the Oswestry Disability Index (ODI) of nerve function, physical and radiographic examinations, bone fusion, and neurologic status. RESULTS The follow-up lasted 23-82 months (average, 43.8 months). The average surgical time was 178.1 minutes (range, 100-230 minutes), with an average intraoperative blood loss of 574 mL (range, 230-1100 mL). Postoperatively, VAS scores decreased from 6.2±1.7 to 0.5±0.7 (P<0.001). The preoperative and final ODI scores were 51.1±7.7 and 22.6±4.9, respectively, reflecting a significant decrease (P<0.001). According to the ASIA classification, 3 patients had grade C, 3 patients had grade D, and 7 patients had grade E disease. Three months postoperatively, 1 patient had grade D and 10 patients had grade E disease; ultimately, all cases were grade E disease. Only 1 patient experienced local recurrence and underwent en bloc marginal resection with postoperative radiotherapy. All patients remained neurologically stable without any major complications. CONCLUSIONS Accurate intraoperative localization with complete resection is the key to preventing recurrence. Aggressive surgical resection can achieve satisfactory clinical and radiographic outcomes.

Cystic bone tumors of the foot and ankle.

Bone tumors are relatively rare in the foot and ankle region. Many of them present as cystic lesions on plain films. Due to the relative rarity of these lesions and the complex anatomy of the foot and ankle region, identification of such lesions is often delayed or they get misdiagnosed and mismanaged. This review discusses the most common cystic tumors of the foot and ankle including their radiographic features and principles of management.

Osteoblastomas of the spine: a comprehensive review.

Osteoblastomas are primary bone tumors with an affinity for the spine. They typically involve the posterior elements, although extension through the pedicles into the vertebral body is not uncommon. Histologically, they are usually indistinguishable from osteoid osteomas. However, there are different variants of osteoblastomas, with the more aggressive type causing more pronounced bone destruction, soft-tissue infiltration, and epidural extension. A bone scan is the most sensitive radiographic examination used to evaluate osteoblastomas. These osseous neoplasms usually present in the 2nd decade of life with dull aching pain, which is difficult to localize. At times, they can present with a painful scoliosis, which usually resolves if the osteoblastoma is resected in a timely fashion. Neurological manifestations such as radiculopathy or myelopathy do occur as well, most commonly when there is mass effect on nerve roots or the spinal cord itself. The mainstay of treatment involves surgical intervention. Curettage has been a surgical option, although marginal excision or wide en bloc resection are preferred options. Adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy are generally not undertaken, although some have advocated their use after less aggressive surgical maneuvers or with residual tumor. In this manuscript, the authors have aimed to systematically review the literature and to put forth an extensive, comprehensive overview of this rare osseous tumor.

Role of growth hormone in maturation and activation of dendritic cells via miR-200a and the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway.

OBJECTIVES: Dendritic cells (DCs) are antigen-presenting cells that participate in the immune response; recently, it has been reported that growth hormone (GH) promotes their maturation. The aim of this study was to investigate mechanisms by which GH acts on DC maturation and activation. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Human peripheral blood monocytes (HPBMs) were induced to become immature DCs and treated with GH to obtain mature DCs. An osteosarcoma mouse model was established by injection of LM8 cells to investigate anti-tumour effect of GH-induced DCs in vivo. RESULTS: After administration of GH, DCs reduced miR-200a expression and nuclear Nrf2 accumulation; miR-200a down-regulation inhibited DC maturation. Nrf2 ubiquitination level was increased by Keap1 overexpression in murine bone marrow derived dendritic cells (BMDCs), which was cancelled by miR-200a in GH exposed cells. In vivo, tumour volume was significantly reduced by GH-treated DCs and the effect was reversed by overexpression of miR-200a. CONCLUSIONS: GH promoted maturation and activation of DCs, and regulation of miR-200a played a part in this process by modulation of the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway.

Extended curettage and adjuvant therapy for benign tumors of the talus.

PURPOSE: Benign tumors of the talus are rare, and their management is controversial. Recent efforts have extended the safety margin of intralesional excision and curettage by chemical and physical means. Cryotherapy as adjuvant therapy is associated with risks of local wound and bony complications (delayed healing, potential for pathological fractures). METHODS: We retrospectively reviewed six cases of benign talar tumors (three giant cell tumors, two aneurysmal bone cysts, one osteoblastoma) treated by extended curettage and adjuvant cryotherapy. Talar bone stock was restored by bone grafting the residual cavity with fibular strut grafts and/or cancellous bone grafts. Patients were followed for a mean of 40 months. RESULTS: At latest follow-up, each patient had a mobile painless ankle and good functional outcome. No patient experienced recurrence or complications related to cryotherapy. CONCLUSIONS: Intralesional extended curettage with bone grafting and cryotherapy is a successful, safe, and efficient treatment of benign tumors of the talus.

Rib osteoblastoma as an incidental finding in a patient with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis: a case report.

The purpose of this article is to present an unreported case of rib osteoblastoma associated with progressive adolescent idiopathic scoliosis and to discuss thoracogenic scoliosis as a potential cause of curve progression after tumor resection. An 11-year and 8-month-old girl with adolescent idiopathic scoliosis was referred with an incidental finding of an expansile lesion in the posterior left seventh rib. A computed tomography-guided needle biopsy established the diagnosis of benign osteoblastoma. Transarterial embolization was performed followed by wide resection. Sixteen months after surgery the patient underwent posterior spinal fusion to address her scoliosis progression during the growth spurt. Forty-one and 25 months after rib resection and spinal fusion, respectively, the patient remains asymptomatic, without local tumor recurrence, and with excellent correction of her spinal deformity. Although scoliosis secondary to rib osteoblastoma has been described in the literature, rib osteoblastoma may coexist with idiopathic scoliosis. In such a case, surgical management of osteoblastoma should not interfere with treatment of idiopathic scoliosis.

Benign tumors of the spine.

Benign tumors in the spine include osteoid osteoma, osteoblastoma, aneurysmal bone cyst, osteochondroma, neurofibroma, giant cell tumor of bone, eosinophilic granuloma, and hemangioma. Although some are incidental findings, some cause local pain, radicular symptoms, neurologic compromise, spinal instability, and deformity. The evaluation of spinal tumors includes a thorough history and physical examination, imaging, sometimes laboratory evaluation, and biopsy when indicated. Appropriate treatment may be observational (eg, eosinophilic granuloma) or ablative (eg, osteoid osteoma, neurofibroma, hemangioma), but generally is surgical, depending on the level of pain, instability, neurologic compromise, and natural history of the lesion. Knowledge of the epidemiology, common presentation, imaging, and treatment of benign bone tumors is essential for successful management of these lesions.

Staging and treatment of osteoblastoma in the mobile spine: a review of 51 cases.

PURPOSE: To define the role of Enneking staging system and of the consequent different treatment options on the outcome of osteoblastoma (OBL) of the spine. METHODS: A retrospective review of 51 patients with OBL of the mobile spine conducted to compare the outcomes among the different types of treatments at long term follow-up (25-229 months, av.90). These 51 patients were previously staged according to Enneking staging system and treatment selected accordingly. 10 stage two (st.2) OBLs were treated with intralesional excision and 41 stage three (st.3) OBLs were treated either by intralesional excision or en bloc resection. The intralesional excision group was divided considering the use or not of radiation therapy after surgery. The recurrence rate was compared among these groups and also considering previous open surgery ("non intact" vs. "intact"). The statistical significance was defined using the Fisher Exact test. RESULTS: No local recurrence occurred in the st.2 patients treated by intralesional excision. Considering the st.3 patients, 2 local recurrences out of 13 patients occurred in the en bloc resection (15.4 %) group. All occurred in "non intact" cases (67 %). In the intralesional group, 5 local recurrences out of 27 patients occurred (18 %) being none in the group that received radiation therapy after surgery. Two occurred in the "intact" (7 %) and three in the "non intact" group (75 %). Considering all patients, the difference between the recurrence rate between "intact" and "non intact" groups was statistically significant (p < 0.002). CONCLUSIONS: Intralesional excision proved to be effective in st.2 lesions and en bloc resection in st.3. Radiotherapy seems to be an effective adjuvant treatment when en bloc resection is not feasible or requires unacceptable functional sacrifices. The first treatment significantly affects the prognosis as previously treated patients have worse prognosis.

Multimodality treatment of a multifocal osteoblastoma-like tumor of the lower extremity.

Osteoblastoma-like tumor is a rare condition with limited information on its orthopedic management in the current medical literature. The tumor histologically resembles an osteoblastoma, although the radiographic features are similar to those observed in primary vascular lesions. The treatment in the previously reported cases involved aggressive procedures including amputation, en bloc resection, and chemotherapy because of the uncertainty regarding the biological behavior of the tumor. We present a case of this entity that was successfully treated by a combination therapy including intralesional curettage with adjuvant cryotherapy, in situ and intravenous administration of bisphosphonates and radioablation.

A rare tumor of nasal bone in a child: osteoblastoma.

Benign osteoblastoma is an uncommon bone tumor, representing 1% of all benign tumors and 3% of all primary bone tumors. Intranasal or paranasal osteoblastoma is particularly rare. Osteoblastoma occurs more frequently in males, at a peak age between 10 and 20 years. We report an osteoblastoma of the nasal septum in an 11-year-old boy who presented with swelling of the nasal septum. The diagnosis and management of this unusual lesion, as well as the histopathology and imaging characteristics, are reviewed. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a solid midline nasal mass originating from the septum with intense contrast enhancement. There was no evidence of osteoid or chondroid matrix mineralization on computed tomography (CT). Biopsy was performed. Histologically, the tumor contained abundant plump osteoblast-like cells, with eosinophilic cytoplasm and large nuclei that were frequently juxtaposed to the newly formed osteoid. Conservative excision was performed. The literature concerning occurrence of osteoblastoma in this unusual location is reviewed.

Back pain in the young athlete.

Back pain in the young athlete is a common finding. There are many different problems that can cause back pain in active children. It is important for the treating physician to obtain a thorough history and physical examination to help in establishing the underlying cause for the discomfort. Appropriate imaging can be determined by these findings and further help to define the pathology. Depending upon the specific pathology, appropriate treatment may help the patient to safely return to the activities that they enjoy.

Management of osteoblastoma and osteoid osteoma of the spine in childhood.

OBJECT: Osteoid osteomas and osteoblastoma of the spine are rare lesions in childhood, and management strategies have changed. The authors reviewed their recent experience with these 2 types of lesions to elucidate current treatment modalities and outcomes. METHODS: Case records and radiographic images from all cases of osteoid osteoma and osteoblastoma diagnosed between 1993 and 2008 were retrospectively reviewed, including those managed nonsurgically. RESULTS: Thirty cases were identified; 22 were treated surgically and 8 were managed nonsurgically. The patients' mean age at presentation was 13 years (range 3-17 years). Of 30 patients, 29 (97%) presented with pain; 7 (23%) had scoliosis at presentation; 12 (40%) experienced relief with nonsteroidal antiinflammatory medication. Osteoid osteoma was diagnosed in 7 (32%) of the 22 patients who underwent surgery, and osteoblastoma in 15 (68%). Nine (41%) of the 22 surgically treated patients underwent fusion procedures (bone onlay or instrumentation) at the time of surgery. Pain freedom without medication had been achieved in 16 (73%) of the 22 surgically treated patients at a mean follow-up of 28 months (range 2-75 months) and was confirmed in 3 (38%) of the 8 nonsurgically treated patients at a mean follow-up of 33 months (range 24-51 months). CONCLUSIONS: Osteoid osteomas and osteoblastomas can present challenging management problems in pediatric patients. In the majority of cases in which conservative therapy fails or pathological diagnosis is required, surgery using modern intraoperative imaging and spinal instrumentation can provide symptom relief and tumor control.

Aggressive "benign" primary spine neoplasms: osteoblastoma, aneurysmal bone cyst, and giant cell tumor.

STUDY DESIGN: Clinically based systematic review. OBJECTIVE: To define optimal clinical care for primary spinal aggressive "benign" osseous neoplasms using a systematic review with expert opinion. METHODS: Predefined focused questions on treatment of osteoblastomas, aneurysmal bone cysts and giant cell tumors were refined by a panel of spine oncology surgeons, medical and radiation oncologist. Keywords were searched through Medline and pertinent abstracts and articles obtained. The quality of literature was rated as high, moderate, low or very low. Based on literature review and expert opinion recommendations were composed through the GRADE system and rated as either strong or weak. RESULTS: The literature searches revealed very low quality evidence with no prospective or randomized studies. There are a limited number of patients with aggressive primary osseous tumors. The osteoblastoma initial search identified 211 articles of which 17 were pertinent to the spinal questions. The aneurysmal bone cysts initial search revealed 482 articles initially of which 6 were pertinent; and the search on giant cell tumors identified 178 articles of which only 8 were focused on the predefined treatment questions. CONCLUSION: Spinal aggressive benign osseous neoplasms have varying histology. Despite these differences surgical treatment should be directed at gross resection of the tumor, understanding that this may be limited by anatomic confines and the potential for morbidity.

Treatment of osteoblastoma at C7: a multidisciplinary approach. A case report and review of the literature.

Osteoblastoma is a rare benign bone tumor that presents with back pain and occurs in the spine approximately 40% of the time. The time from onset of symptoms to diagnosis is typically several months because it is a rare entity and radiographic studies are often negative early in the course of the disease. These highly vascular and locally aggressive tumors require complete and precise resection. The patient presented is a 15-year-old boy with a 14-month history of right-sided neck and shoulder pain. Computerized tomography and magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a lesion in the posterior elements of C7 which extended through the pedicle and into the body. Preoperative angiography confirmed a hypervascular lesion which was successfully embolized. He subsequently underwent piecemeal tumor resection and instrumented fusion. Immediate postoperative imaging demonstrated complete resection. At 18 months follow up the patient has maintained resolution of preoperative symptoms and demonstrates evidence of solid fusion on CT. This multidisciplinary approach markedly decreased blood loss and improved visualization to help achieve complete surgical resection and resolution of clinical symptoms.

Osteoblastoma in the skeletally immature.

BACKGROUND: Osteoblastoma is a rare benign and sometimes locally aggressive tumor with peak incidence in the second decade. None of the available series addresses specifically the differences in presentation, management, and outcome between the pediatric and adult patient populations. METHODS: The medical records and radiographs of all children diagnosed with osteoblastoma during a 17-year period were reviewed. We recorded demographic information, time until diagnosis, location, clinical and radiographic characteristics, treatment, complications, and outcome at a minimum 2-year follow-up (range, 2-5 years). RESULTS: Seventeen children met the inclusion criteria. There were 10 boys and 7 girls, with an average age at diagnosis of 11 years (range, 20 months-15 years). The average time delay between onset of symptoms and diagnosis was 6.5 months (range, 2 months-2 years). There were 7 lesions in the lower extremity, 5 in the spine, 4 in the upper extremity, and 1 in the sternum. Pain at the tumor site was present in all cases. Two of the 5 patients with spine lesion had scoliosis. All patients underwent open incisional biopsy with intraoperative frozen section. In 16 cases, this was followed by a 4-step approach (extended curettage, high-speed burring, electrocauterization of cavity wall, and phenol 5% solution). Four of the 5 patients with spine lesions had instrumented posterior spine fusion after tumor removal. Two patients were referred to our institution with recurrent lesion after surgery elsewhere. Only 1 (6%) of 15 children initially treated at our institution had recurrence. All recurrences occurred in children younger than 6 years; all were successfully treated with a 4-step approach. CONCLUSIONS: Osteoblastomas can be successfully treated with a 4-step approach. Children younger than 6 years may have a higher likelihood of recurrence.

Osteoid osteoma and osteoblastoma of the spine.

Osteoid osteomas and osteoblastomas of the spine are rare primary spine tumors consisting of osteoblasts that produce osteoid and woven bone. They often involve the posterior spinal elements, with the thoracolumbar spine being the most common site of involvement. The authors review the clinical presentation, radiologic findings, and treatment in osteoid osteoma and osteoblastoma of the spine, with an emphasis on surgical management and outcomes in recent years.

[Aggressive osteoblastoma of the larynx: case report]. / Guz krtani o utkaniu osteoblastoma agresiva: opis przypadku.

Osteoblastoma agressiva is not often bone tumor, only locally malignant. There are not articles, describing extra skeleton localization. Authors presented case of 45 year old patient, who was treated because of Aggressive Osteoblastoma localized in larynx. Patient has received operation and irradiation treatment. The tumor localization and patients age--more than 35 year are unusual.

A rare case of periosteal osteoblastoma located in the frontal cranial bone.

Periosteal osteoblastoma is an extremely rare bone-forming neoplasm located on the surface of cortical bone. Of the fewer than 30 cases of periosteal osteoblastomas found in the literature, 2 have been reported to be located in cranial bone, and these have not been documented in detail with clinical history, radiographic findings, macroscopic features, and microscopic findings. Although the differential diagnoses of periosteal lesions include parosteal and periosteal osteosarcoma, periosteal chondroma and chondrosarcoma, osteochondroma, osteoid osteoma, periostitis ossificans, and myositis ossificans, an important differential diagnosis both radiologically and pathologically of such a lesion in the cranium is meningioma. We report an unusual case of periosteal osteoblastoma located in the frontal cranial bone that was radiologically consistent with a meningioma. The differential diagnosis of metaplastic meningioma with differentiation toward bone is discussed.