Chondroblastoma of the Medial Malleolus: A Case Report of A Rare Tumor at an Extremely Uncommon Site

Abstract

Introduction:

Tumors of the medial malleolus are rare. Chondrogenic tumors of the medial malleolus are extremely rare. Chondroblastoma of the medial malleolus has not been reported previously in the English literature. The purpose is to present a rare tumor occurring at an unusual site and its successful management.

Case Presentation:

We report a case of a 30 years old female with chondroblastoma of the medial malleolus with its clinical features, radiographic features, differential diagnosis, and management at an unusual site. Treatment comprised of an open biopsy followed by aggressive curettage, phenolization and bone cement. Symptoms resolved after treatment with resumption of normal activities and no signs of recurrence at 1 year follow-up.

Conclusion:

This case appears to be the first reported case of chondroblastoma occurring at medial malleolus. The present case report will increase the awareness of this rare tumor occurring at this unusual site thereby avoiding any chance of misdiagnosis.

Introduction

Tumors of the medial malleolus are rare. Chondrogenic tumors of the medial malleolus are extremely rare. Chondroblastoma represents about 1% of all primary bone tumors. It is more common in males, with a male: female ratio of 2:1 and the most common site is the epiphysis of long bones with proximal humerus and proximal tibia being most common sites [1-2]. Malignant transformation has been described in only a few cases. Most chondroblastomas occur during active epiphyseal plate growth and about two-thirds in the second decade of life [3]. Most common symptoms are localized pain & swelling.

Radiographic signs of asymmetric epiphyseal destruction with bone expansion and sclerotic margins are seen. In histopathology, the predominant cells are similar to epiphyseal chondrocytes with distinct morphological features of differentiation. To our knowledge, chondroblastoma of the medial malleolus has not been reported previously in the English literature. The purpose is to present a rare tumor occurring at an unusual site and its successful management.

Case Report

A 30-years old female, presented in the hospital OPD on 28^th March, 2013 with complaints of pain and swelling localized in left medial malleolus since 12 years. Pain was gradual in onset, intermittent and aggravated on walking and relieved on rest and analgesic medications. Patient was able to walk normally without limp. Patient had history of trauma to the left ankle about 12 years back. Patient had no history of fever, significant weight loss or any significant medical history. She was admitted for the evaluation and management of her complaints.

On physical evaluation, tenderness was present on left medial malleolus with a firm 3x3 cm localized swelling (Fig. 1) and normal temperature of the overlying skin. Swelling was noncompressible and non-reducible. Ranges of movements at left ankle joint were normal and pain free, in all planes. There was no lymphadenopathy and systemic examination was normal. The laboratory findings were within normal ranges.

Figure 1.

A swelling in correspondence in the area of left medial malleolus.

Skiagrams of the left ankle with lateral (Fig. 2A) and anteroposterior (Fig. 2B) views were done. A well defined lytic lesion, spherical in shape (approximately 2 cm in diameter) was seen in the left medial malleolus. The lesion was non-expansile and eccentric without any periosteal reaction and cortex breech. Chest X-ray was also done and was normal.

Figure 2.

Radiograph of the patient’s left ankle: A. Lateral view; B. Anteroposterior view showing well defined lytic lesion, in the left medial malleolus.

MRI (Magnetic resonance imaging) of the left ankle was done. Serial T1 & T2 axial and T1 saggital, coronal scans were obtained using phased array coil. MRI (Figs. 3A and 3B) (Figs. 3A and 3B) showed intramedullary lobulated cystic lesion in the medial malleolus which was sub-articular without the involvement of articular surface of tibia. It was surrounded by hyperintense edema with no expansion of bone. There was no breech in the overlying cortex with no periosteal reaction or extension in the surrounding soft tissue. The articular margins of tibia were intact with no evidence of involvement of the ankle joint/talar surface giving an impression of a benign bone lesion, most likely to be chondroblastoma of left medial malleolus. Based on clinical study and radiological data, the differential diagnosis included chondroblastoma, giant cell tumor or chondromyxoid fibroma.

Figure 3.

MRI of the patient’s left ankle: A Coronal section and B. Transverse section showing benign cystic lesion in medial malleolus without bony expansion, cortical breech, extension into the joint/surrounding soft tissue, more likely, Chondroblastoma.

Core biopsy with Jamshedi needle was performed, which showed (Figs. 4A&B) numerous polygonal cells closely packed in sheets with rounded nuclei and abundant acidophilic cytoplasm. Large number of giant cells were scattered in between the polygonal cells. In between these cells, scanty chondroid matrix was seen. A diagnosis of Chondroblastoma was made.

Figure 4.

Photomicrograph of the lesion showing polygonal cells closely packed in sheets with rounded nuclei and abundant acidophilic cytoplasm with scattered giant cells and scanty chondroid matrix.

Patient was then taken up for surgery under spinal anaesthesia and curettage and phenolization with bone cementing was done and curette material sent for biopsy and confirming the diagnosis. Follow-up of the patient was done at 6 weeks, 3 months, 6 months and 9 months and 1 year following the curettage. Pain and swelling at the left medial malleolus resolved and range of movements at ankle joint were normal and no signs of recurrence were seen on radiology after 1 year of follow-up.

Chondroblastoma is a rare tumor. It occurs in the second decade of life in upto 95% of cases, with a male: female ratio of 2:1 [4]. Chondroblastoma has a predilection for the epiphysis or apophysis of the distal femur, proximal humerus, proximal tibia. Ten percent of chondroblastomas affect the small bones of the hands and feet with talus and calcaneum being the most common sites [5,6]. The successful treatment comprised of aggressive curettage, phenolization, and bone cementation.

Pain and localized swelling, usually of several months duration are the main and presenting complaints in patients with chondroblastoma [7] as was also seen in this patient. Joint effusion is seen in approximately one-third of the patients [4] because of occurrence of the tumor in the vicinity of the joint, hence misdiagnosing it as an inflammatory joint disease. Atalar et al. [2] reported a case which was misdiagnosed initially with a juvenile rheumatoid arthritis, and was administered anti-inflammatory therapy for 1 year before being diagnosed correctly. This patient also has 12 years of interval between initial symptom of pain and swelling to suspicion and confirmed diagnosis of chondroblastoma, thereby supporting the opinion that this form of bone tumor is frequently misdiagnosed [2].

On radiological examination, the lesion is usually eccentrically located [8], well defined, lytic, radiolucent, with a thin sclerotic border, exhibiting a geographical pattern of bone destruction [9]. Cortical expansion and periosteal reaction can be seen which is uncommon in benign bone tumors. Annual chest X-Rays must be done for 5 years after treatment, for pulmonary metastasis, which is seen in 1 to 3% of patients [1]. Chondroblastomas exhibit a distinctive feature on MRI scans which is a predominant low-to-intermediate signal intensity on T1-weighted images with heterogeneous intermediate signal on T2-weighted images, with only scattered foci of high signal intensity [10]. Focal lobules of low, intermediate, and high signal intensity most likely correspond to calcification, chondroid matrix, and fluid in the lesion. MRI can reveal an extension of tumor into the soft tissues which is usually rare and may also reveal an effusion of the joint. The histopathological examination of chondroblastoma lesion, described according to the World Health Organisation [11] is “a relatively benign tumor, which is characterized by highly cellular and relatively undifferentiated chondroblast-like cells which are rounded or polygonal with distinct outlines and multi-nucleated osteoclast-type giant cells arranged singly or in groups.” Cartilaginous intercellular matrix with areas of focal calcification is typical-chicken wire calcification. Biopsy of the lesion is mandatory to confirm the diagnosis.

As far as differential diagnosis of chondroblastoma is concerned, conditions mimicking chondroblastoma radiologically include bone abscess, giant cell tumor, chondromyxoid fibroma, osteoblastoma, enchondroma, intraosseous ganglion, clear cell chondrosarcoma, and osteonecrosis while conditions mimicking chondroblastoma pathologically include giant cell tumor, enchondroma, clear cell chondrosarcoma and conventional chondrosarcoma. More clearly demarcated margins of the lesion on radiography and presence of chondroblasts and hyaline matrix on histopathological examination in this patient excluded osteoclastoma as diagnosis. Epiphysis is a rare site for osteoblastoma and enchondroma, thereby excluding both. Younger age of this patient at the time of onset of symptoms excludes clear cell chondrosarcoma as diagnosis which commonly affects middle aged patients. Young age of the patient at the time of onset of symptoms with location in proximity to the articular surface rules out the diagnosis of intraosseous ganglion. Absence of the classical radiological signs of osteonecrosis like crescent sign and typical MRI findings in this patient excludes osteonecrosis. Absence of the myxoid component on histopathological examination rules out chondromyxoid fibroma.

A standard curettage procedure combined with cryosurgery is associated with least recurrence rate. Various other surgical techniques, including open and endoscopic curettage, marginal resection, curettage with fat implantation, resection with radiofrequency ablation, and osteochondral autograft transfer are available now a days [12-14]. Reconstruction of bone defect as a result of surgery is another important question which can be done with bone cement, and bone grafts. The most common method for reconstruction after curettage is bone autograft harvested from either iliac crest or fibula with advantages of improved rate of graft incorporation and lack of immunogenic concerns [2].

Advantages of bone cement for reconstruction of bone defect includes immediate weight-bearing without risk of fracture, and an improved clinical and radiographic follow-up which is observed in this patient also. Also, the bone graft is associated with longer surgical time, donor morbidity and may resorb thereby making it difficult for differentiation of the graft from a tumor recurrence [15].

Conclusion

This case appears to be the first reported case of chondroblastoma occurring at the medial malleolus. This case report will increase the awareness of this rare tumor occurring at unusual site thereby avoiding any chance of misdiagnosis. Aggressive curettage, phenolization and bone cement are preferred treatment methods. In this case, successful treatment consisted of an open biopsy followed by curettage, phenolization, and bone cement without any recurrence at 1 year follow-up.

Clinical Message.

Though medial malleolus is an extremely rare site for an uncommon tumor as Chondroblastoma, it should be considered as an important differential diagnosis for a swelling occurring at the medial malleolus, thereby avoiding any chance of misdiagnosis and should be managed promptly by a thorough clinical and radiological examination and confirmation of the lesion by an open biopsy followed by curettage, phenolization, and bone cement for successful outcomes.

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