Outcome of surgical resection of pelvic osteosarcoma

Background:

The aim of the following study is to evaluate the morbidity, oncologic results and functional outcome in nonmetastatic patients with primary osteosarcoma of the pelvis treated with surgical resection.

Materials and Methods:

Twelve cases of nonmetastatic osteosarcoma of pelvis were operated as part of their multimodality treatment regime between November 2003 and May 2011. There were 5 males and 7 females with a median age of 22 years (range 8-39 years). Ten patients underwent limb sparing resections while 2 had a hindquarter amputation. All 10 cases of limb sparing surgery included resection of the acetabulum. A pseudarthrosis was carried out in 7 cases. Extracorporeal radiation therapy and reimplantation of the bone followed by fixation with plates was used in 1 case and an ischiofemoral arthrodesis was carried out in 2 cases.

Results:

Surgical margins were free in 11 patients. Seven patients had a poor histological response to chemotherapy while 4 patients had a good response to chemotherapy. In the patient reconstructed with radiated auto bone graft, the histological response to chemotherapy could not be assessed. Surgery related complications were seen in 8 out of 12 patients (67%). Three of these patients (25%) required additional surgical intervention for their complications. All patients were available for followup. The median followup of survivors was 56 months (range 24-102 months). Four patients (33%) developed a local recurrence. At 5 years, overall survival was 67%. Patients with a good response to chemotherapy had a better overall survival when compared with patients with a poor response to chemotherapy. The mean Musculoskeletal Tumor Society functional score was 22 (range12-27).

Conclusions:

Though complex and challenging, surgery provides good local control and oncologic outcomes with acceptable function in patients with osteosarcoma of the pelvis treated with appropriate surgical resection as part of their multimodality treatment.     

Plain Radiologic Findings and Chronological Changes of Incipient Phase Osteosarcoma Overlooked by Primary Physicians

Background

We assessed the plain radiographic characteristics of 10 cases of osteosarcomas during the initial painful period that had been overlooked by a primary physician. In addition, we evaluated chronologic changes in radiographic findings from initial symptomatic period to the time of accurate diagnosis.

Methods

The clinical records were reviewed for clinical parameters including age, sex, location, presenting symptoms, initial diagnosis, duration from initial symptoms to definite diagnosis, and initial and follow-up plain radiographic findings of the lesion.

Results

Initial clinical diagnoses included a sprain in 6, growing pain in 2, stress fracture in 1, and infection in 1 patient. Initial plain radiographic findings were trabecular destruction (100%), cortical disruption (60%), periosteal reaction (60%), and soft tissue mass (10%). Intramedullary matrix changes were osteosclerosis in 6 and osteolysis in 4 patients. On progression, 4 cases with minimal sclerosis changed to osteoblastic lesion in 3 patients and osteolytic lesion in 1. Four cases with faint osteolytic foci transformed into osteolytic lesion in 3 and mixed pattern in 1.

Conclusions

Notable plain radiologic findings of incipient-stage osteosarcoma include trabecular disruption along with faint osteosclerosis or osteolysis. In symptomatic patients with trabecular destruction, additional imaging study including magnetic resonance imaging should be performed to exclude osteosarcoma in the incipient phase, even without radiologic findings suggesting malignant tumor, such as cortical destruction or periosteal reaction.     

Role of Surgical Margin on Local Recurrence in High Risk Extremity Osteosarcoma: A Case-Controlled Study

Background

The relationship between surgical margin and local recurrence (LR) in osteosarcoma patients with poor responses to chemotherapy is unclear. Moreover, the incidences of LR according to three different resection planes (bone, soft tissue, and perineurovascular) are not commonly known.

Methods

We evaluated the incidence of LR in three areas. To assess whether there is a role of surgical margin on LR in patients resistant to preoperative chemotherapy, we designed a case (35 patients with LR) and control (70 patients without LR) study. Controls were matched for age, location, initial tumor volume, and tumor volume change during preoperative chemotherapy.

Results

LR occurred at the soft tissues in 18 cases (51.4%), at the perineurovascular tissues in 11 cases (31.4%), and at the bones in six cases (17.2%). The proportion of inadequate perineurovascular margin was higher in the case group than in the control group (p = 0.01). Within case-control group (105 patients), a correlation between each margin status and LR at corresponding area was found in the bone (p < 0.001) and perineurovascular area (p = 0.001).

Conclusions

LR is most common in soft tissues. In patients showing similar unfavorable responses to chemotherapy, the losses of perineurovascular fat plane on preoperative magnetic resonance imaging may be a valuable finding in predicting LR.     

High tumor volume and local recurrence following surgery in osteosarcoma: A retrospective study

Background:

Osteosarcoma is a high grade malignant, osteoid forming, primary bone tumor affecting the metaphysis of long bones. Local recurrence (LR) in osteosarcomas is a sinister. Theoretically, a high tumor volume at the time of presentation will limit surgical margins, involve vital neurovascular bundles and show poor response to chemotherapy thereby causing high rates of amputations (as against limb salvage surgery) and should be associated with poor survival rates. This study evaluated objectively if high tumor volume is a significant predictor of local recurrence (LR) in operated cases of osteosarcomas.

Materials and Methods:

Operated cases of osteosarcoma (presenting to the Orthopedic outpatient or the Medical Oncology outpatient between January 1, 2004 and January 1, 2011 were included in the study. Their preoperative clinical data and investigations along with the operative notes were traced from the medical/departmental records. Details of chemotherapy received in the neo-adjuvant and postoperative periods were noted. Besides, all demographic data were also noted. Tumor volume was calculated using the available magnetic resonance images using the formula: ([π/6] × length × width × depth). Post data extraction, patients were divided in two groups, Groups I (without LR) and Group II (with LR).

Results:

A total of 95 cases of biopsy proven osteosarcomas were identified. Of which 64 were male and 31 females. There were 15 (15.8%) local recurrences. 71% (57/80) patients without LR fell in the age group of 10-20 years, while 66% (10/15) patients with LR were in the age group of 10-20 years. Limb salvage surgery was done in 81.05% (77/95) patients while a total of 18 patients underwent amputation. Of the 80 cases in Group I (without LR), 40 (50%) patients had tumor volume >200 c.c., 30 patients (37.5%) had tumor volume between 50 and 200 c.c. while only 10 patients had tumor volumes <50 c.c. This was in contrast to the tumor volume noted in Group II (with LR) of 15 patients where 8 patients had a tumor volume between 50 and 200 c.c., five had bigger tumor volumes of >200 c.c. and only two patients were smaller in size, with a tumor volume <50 c.c. The mean tumor volume in the group without LR was 406.74 ± 771.67 c.c. as compared with 195.77 ± 226.8 c.c. in the group with local recurrence. Using Mann-Whitney test, the difference between the two groups was found to be statistically insignificant (P = 1.403).

Conclusions:

We conclude that high tumor volume is not a significant predictor of LR in osteosarcomas thus patients with high tumor masses should not be denied limb salvage. However, we recommend that the decision on attempting limb salvage should not only be based on the tumor volume alone.     

Limb salvage surgery for osteosarcoma: Early results in Indian patients

Background:

While limb salvage surgery has long been established as the standard of care for osteosarcoma, large studies from Indian centers are few. Given the diverse socio economic milieu of our patients, it becomes significant to determine the feasibility and outcome of management of osteosarcoma in our population. We analyzed the early outcome of limb salvage surgery with multimodality treatment of osteosarcoma of the extremity/girdle bones at a tertiary North Indian Cancer Centre.

Materials and Methods:

A total of 51 limb salvage surgeries performed during the months between November 2008 and November 2012 were studied. Neoadjuvant/adjuvant chemotherapy was given by the pediatric/adult medical oncology teams as applicable. The mean followup was 19.45 months (range 2-50 months). The oncological outcome was correlated with age, sex, size of tumor, stage at presentation, site, histological subtype, type of chemotherapy protocol followed and necrosis seen on postoperative examination of resected specimen. The functional outcome of the patients was evaluated using the musculoskeletal tumor society (MSTS) scoring system.

Results:

Out of a total of 37 males and 14 females with an average age of 18.8 years, the 3 year overall survival was 66% and 3 year event free survival was 61.8%. In this group of patients with a short followup, a better oncological outcome was associated with good postoperative tumor necrosis, nonchondroblastic histology and age <14 years. The average MSTS score was highest in patients with proximal or distal femur prosthesis and the lowest in patients undergoing a knee arthrodesis.

Conclusion:

The present study shows oncological and functional outcomes of limb salvage combined with chemotherapy in Indian patients with osteosarcoma comparable to those in world literature. Larger studies on Indian population with longer followup are recommended.     

Management of juxta articular giant cell tumors around the knee by custom mega prosthetic arthroplasty

Background:

Juxtaarticular giant cell tumors around the knee are common and pose a special problem of reconstruction after tumor excision. This article analyzes the functional outcome after resection of juxtaarticular giant cell tumors around the knee and replacement by custom mega prosthetic arthroplasty.

Materials and Methods:

One hundred and forty-three patients with juxtaarticular giant cell tumors around the knee with mean age of 30.8 years (range 15 to 64 years) underwent resection and replacement by custom mega prosthetic arthroplasty during the period 1994 to 2005. Eighty-one patients were males and 62 were females. Fourteen patients were in Enneking Stage 2 while 129 patients were in Stage 3. Distal femur was involved in 87 patients and proximal tibia in 56 patients. Forty patients presented with pathological fracture at the time of diagnosis. The technique of sleeve resection of the quadriceps musculature was followed to achieve local clearance in distal femoral tumors, and for proximal tibial lesions resection of the tumor-bearing part and a medial gastronemius rotation flap was used routinely. The prosthesis used was a rotating hinge custom mega prosthesis manufactured locally.

Results:

The mean follow-up was 5.4 years (1.5 years to 11 years). Functional results were analyzed using Enneking criteria. Excellent results were obtained in 90 patients (62%) and 39 patients had good (27%) results. Periprosthetic fracture (8.3%) and infection (6.9%) were the most common complications followed by aseptic loosening (4.2%). Recurrence of lesion was found in only one patient (0.69%) who was managed with wide local excision.

Conclusion:

Custom mega prosthetic arthroplasty is effective in achieving the desired goals of reconstruction with good functional results and least complications in selected patients.     

Short-term followup after surgical treatment of Ewing��s sarcoma

Background:

Results of surgical treatment in Indian patients of Ewing’s sarcoma managed with multimodality treatment with chemotherapy and/or radiotherapy are insufficient. We report a retrospective evaluation of a series of cases of Ewing’s sarcoma managed with chemotherapy, surgery with or without radiotherapy.

Materials and Methods:

54 patients of biopsy-proven Ewing’s sarcoma of the bone, except craniofacial and vertebral bones were included. The patients having recurrence or having previous treatment were excluded from the study. Local and systemic extent of the sarcoma was defined, staged, and patients were subjected to the chemotherapy, surgery, and in some cases radiotherapy. Patients were evaluated for results of surgery with respect to complications, recurrence, and metastases at 3, 6, 9, 12, 18 and 24 months of follow-up

Results:

Average age of patients was 15.6 years (range 7-26 years); average delay in treatment was 4.1 months (1-7 months); follow-up ranged from 2 to 5 years (median 3.1 years); 14 patients (25.9%) had pulmonary metastases at their initial presentation. Twenty-one patients (38.9%) underwent resection and intercalary reconstruction with bone grafting, fixed with locking plates. Allograft was also used in 11 of these. Sixteen patients underwent resection and reconstruction with endoprosthesis, while seven patients (13.0%) underwent resection and arthrodesis. An above-knee amputation was required in 7.4% (four patients). Mesh was used for containing the graft longitudinally in five patients (femoral and tibial intercalary reconstructions) and for soft tissue attachment in two patients (hip and shoulder endoprostheses). Two patients had deep wound infection. One patient presented 1 year later with implant failure. The disease-free survival at 2 years from the time of diagnosis was 57.5% (23 out of 40) for patients without preoperative metastases and 42.9% (6 out of 14) for those with preoperative metastases. Overall, the disease-free survival at 2 years was 53.7% (29 out of 54 patients). Overall survival rate at 2 years was 61.1% (33 out of 54 patients).

Conclusion:

Results of surgical treatment in this study are comparable with the current literature in spite of involvement of long bony segment and large soft tissue component. Intramedullary fibular autograft with morcellized cancellous autograft and allograft contained longitudinally in a mesh appears to be a good alternative with such large bone tumors.     

Acromioclavicular joint acceleration-deceleration injury as a cause of persistent shoulder pain: Outcome after arthroscopic resection

Background:

Shoulder pain in general and acromioclavicular joint (ACJ) pain specifically is common after acceleration-deceleration injury following road traffic accident (RTA). The outcome of surgical treatment in this condition is not described in the literature. The aim of the present study was to report the outcome of arthroscopic resection of the ACJ in these cases

Materials and Methods:

Nine patients with localized ACJ pain, resistant to nonoperative treatment were referred on an average 18 months after the injury. There were 3 male and 6 females. The right shoulder was involved in seven patients and the left in two. The average age was 38.9 years (range 29-46 years). All presented with normal X-rays but with torn acromioclavicular joint disc and effusion on magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Arthroscopic ACJ excision arthroplasty was performed in all patients.

Results:

At a mean followup of 18 month, all patients had marked improvement. The Constant score improved from 36 to 81, the pain score from 3/15 to 10/15 and the patient satisfaction improved from 3.5/10 to 9.3/10.

Conclusion:

Arthroscopic ACJ excision arthroplasty, gives good outcomes in patients not responding to conservative management in ACJ acceleration-deceleration injury.     

Use of irradiated autologous bone in joint sparing endoprosthetic femoral replacement tumor surgery

Background:

Joint preservation is usually attempted in cases of bone tumors, though insufficient bone following tumour resection may prevent fixation of conventional joint sparing prosthesis. To preserve the hip joint in skeletally immature patients, we have combined autologous proximal femoral irradiation and intercalary re-implantation with custom made distal femoral replacements.

Materials and Methods:

A retrospective cohort study of four patients (aged 4-12 years); in whom irradiated autologous bone was combined with an extendable distal femoral endoprostheses was performed. There were three cases of osteosarcoma and one case of Ewing’s sarcoma.

Results:

At a mean follow-up of 70.5 months (range 26-185 months), all four patients were alive without evidence of local recurrence. There was no evidence of metastatic disease in three patients while one patient showed chest metastatic disease at presentation. In all cases, the irradiated segment of bone united with the proximal femur and demonstrated bone ongrowth at the prosthetic collar. There were no cases of loosening or peri-prosthetic fracture. One implant was revised after 14 years following fracture of the extending component of the endoprosthesis.

Conclusions:

We report encouraging results utilizing irradiated autologous proximal femoral bone combined with distal femoral replacement in skeletally immature patients.     

Should High-grade Extraosseous Osteosarcoma Be Treated With Multimodality Therapy Like Other Soft Tissue Sarcomas?

Background

Extraosseous osteosarcoma is rare, and the most appropriate therapy is unclear because there are few studies regarding its treatment. The effectiveness of radiation and chemotherapy remains uncertain owing to conflicting results in previous reports.

Questions/purposes

To review our experience with contemporary multimodality treatment, we asked: (1) What is the disease-specific survival and local relapse-free survival? (2) Does American Joint Commission on Cancer (AJCC) stage, tumor size, or location relate to disease outcome? (3) Does radiation therapy improve local control or survival? (4) Do doxorubicin and ifosfamide improve local control or survival?

Methods

Between 1990 and 2012, we treated 40 patients for localized, high-grade extraosseous osteosarcoma. In this retrospective study, we could determine the status of 36 patients (90%) either to death or for a minimum of 24 months of followup; four (10%) were lost to followup before 24 months. There were 11 patients with AJCC Stage IIA and 25 with Stage III disease. All patients underwent wide surgical excision. Of the patients with Stage IIA disease, four received radiation and none received chemotherapy. Of the patients with Stage III disease, six received radiation, seven were treated with chemotherapy, and six received radiation and chemotherapy. During the study period, high-dose doxorubicin and ifosfamide was the preferred chemotherapy regimen for patients younger than 60 years with normal cardiac and renal function. Local relapse-free survival and disease-specific survival were determined by Kaplan-Meier analysis using a prospectively maintained institutional database supplemented by information from the institutional tumor registry. The Cox proportional hazard model was used to determine the effect of various factors on local recurrence and patient survival.

Results

At 5 years, local relapse-free survival was 47% (95% CI, 27%–64%), and disease-specific survival was 53% (95% CI, 35%–68%). In multivariate analysis, AJCC stage, which depends on tumor size, was the strongest predictor of local relapse-free survival (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.17, p = 0.02), while tumor depth was the best predictor of disease-specific survival (HR = 5.6, p = 0.02). Radiation improved local relapse-free survival (HR = 0.30, p = 0.03) but not disease-specific survival in multivariate analysis. A regimen of doxorubicin and ifosfamide was associated with better local relapse-free survival for patients with Stage III disease (HR = 0.16, p = 0.04) but not disease-specific survival (HR = 0.32, p = 0.08).

Conclusions

With the limited number of patients in our study, it appears that extraosseous osteosarcoma behaves differently than osteosarcoma of bone. Multimodality treatment that includes doxorubicin and ifosfamide-based chemotherapy, radiation, and surgery may be a valid therapeutic strategy for Stage III disease, but larger, prospective studies will be needed to verify our preliminary observations.

Level of Evidence

Level III, therapeutic study.     

Inferior epigastric artery pseudoaneurysms

Introduction

Inferior epigastric artery (IEA) pseudoaneurysms are recognised complications of abdominal wall procedures, and a variety of approaches including surgical excision and ligation, percutaneous procedures and conservative management have been employed in treating this rare complication.

Methods

We describe a case of an IEA pseudoaneurysm diagnosed on computed tomography (CT) angiography, 14 days following a laparoscopic assisted low anterior resection, which was managed successfully with surgical excision and ligation. A review of the literature identified 32 reports of this complication since 1973 with 69% of cases occurring since 2000.

Findings

The main aetiology of IEA pseudoaneurysm was abdominal surgery (n=20); 65% of cases were attributable to abdominal wound closure or laparoscopic surgery. Two-thirds (66%) of patients presented between 11 and 63 days, and all except 1 case presented with discomfort, abdominal mass or haemodynamic instability. Colour Doppler ultrasonography was the imaging modality of choice (n=18), either alone or in combination with computed tomography and/or angiography. Surgical ligation and excision and percutaneous coil embolisation formed the mainstay of attempted treatments (69%), particularly following treatment failure using an alternative technique.

Conclusions

The incidence of iatrogenic IEA pseudoaneurysms appears to be increasing. Awareness of this rare complication is of clinical importance to avoid excessive morbidity for affected individuals.     

Long-Term Survivals of Stage IIB Osteosarcoma: A 20-Year Experience in a Single Institution

Background

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the disease-free survival (DFS) and overall survival (OS) of patients with stage IIB osteosarcoma at a single institution for 20 years and to compare the results according to the chemotherapy protocols.

Methods

From Jan 1988 to Nov 2008, 167 patients with osteosarcoma were treated at our hospital and among them, 117 patients (67 males and 50 females) with stage IIB osteosarcoma were evaluable. Their mean age was 22.6 years (range, 8 months to 71 years). Seventy-eight cases underwent the modified T10 (M-T10) protocol (group 1), 23 cases underwent the T20 protocol (group 2) and 16 cases underwent the T12 protocol (group 3). The DFS and OS were calculated and compared according to the chemotherapy protocols.

Results

At a mean follow-up of 78.9 months, 63 patients were continuously disease-free (63/117), 6 patients were alive after having metastatic lesions, 7 patients died of other cause and 41 patients died of their disease. The 5- and 10-year OS rates were 60.2% and 44.8%, respectively and the 5- and 10-year DFS rates were 53.5% and 41.4%, respectively. There was no significant difference of the OS and DFS between the chemotherapy protocols (p = 0.692, p = 0.113).

Conclusions

At present, we achieved success rates close to the internationally accepted DFS and OS. We were able to achieve the higher survival rates using the M-T10 protocol over the 20 years. However, there was no significant difference of results between the chemotherapy protocols. We think the M-T10 protocol will achieve more favorable results in the near future.     

The management of non-melanocytic skin malignancies of the scalp and calvarium

Background:

The management of advanced cutaneous malignancies has been controversial. Thirteen patients with nonmelanoma skin neoplasias that had invaded the bone of the calvarium and scalp were treated in our centre.

Objective:

The purpose of this study was to evaluate our experience in treating these malignancies with scalp resection and full or partial thickness cranium reconstruction.

Patients and Methods:

From June 2008 to March 2012, thirteen patients with locally advanced tumours of the scalp invading the calvarium were treated with wide local excision of the scalp combined with an underlying craniectomy and dural resection if needed.

Results:

Using histopathological diagnosis eleven patients were diagnosed with basal cell carcinoma and two patients with squamous cell carcinoma. A full thickness cranium resection was performed in seven patients and partial in six patients.

Conclusion:

These large cancers occasionally invade adjacent structures, as well as bone, presenting a challenging surgical problem. In general, giant rotational or island scalp flaps and free tissue transfers are needed to close the area. Finding clean margins are an important part of treating patients with bone involvement and can usually be attained using outer tabula curettage thus preventing unnecessary morbidity.KEY WORDS: Bone invasion, calvarium, non-melanocytic, reconstruction, scalp, skin malignancies     

Does Microwave Ablation of the Tumor Edge Allow for Joint-sparing Surgery in Patients With Osteosarcoma of the Proximal Tibia?

Background

Joint-sparing surgery of a patient’s native joint for osteosarcoma likely affords better function and comparable survival. However, it sometimes is challenging to resect a juxtaarticular osteosarcoma in a way that preserves the affected epiphysis because wide margins are necessary to minimize the risk of local recurrence. If there was a method to resect a tumor close to the joint and treat a potentially positive margin to prevent recurrence, it might allow salvage of a joint that otherwise might be lost.

Questions/purposes

We therefore asked (1) whether joint-preserving tumor resection could be performed for juxtaarticular osteosarcoma after microwave ablation of the tumor edge under navigation without leading to local recurrences, (2) what is the resulting function, and (3) what are the complications associated with this procedure.

Methods

Between 2009 and 2011, we treated 11 patients who had juxtaarticular osteosarcoma of the proximal tibia (mean age, 12 years; range, 9–16 years) with joint-preserving surgery by transepiphysis tumor resection after navigation-assisted microwave ablation of the tumor edge; they were followed a minimum of 37 months (mean, 48 months; range 37–62 months), and none was lost to followup. Patients were considered eligible for this procedure if they had a distance from the tumor edge to the articular surface between 10 to 15 mm, good chemotherapy responses, no pathologic fracture and no tumor involvement of major neurovascular structures. Allograft in combination with a vascularized fibula flap was used for segmental reconstruction. We recorded local tumor control, complications, and functional outcomes using the Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score, which ranges from 0 to 30, with higher scores indicating better function.

Results

There were no local recurrences. Major complications included osteonecrosis of part of the epiphysis in two patients and deep infection in one. The Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score ranged from 26 to 30 with a mean of 29.

Conclusions

In selected patients with osteosarcoma invading the epiphysis, navigated resection facilitates performing joint-sparing surgery, and in our small series, the adjuvant microwave ablation seemed to provide adequate local tumor control. Although more experience and longer followup are needed, this approach may make it possible to salvage more native joints when performing limb salvage for osteosarcoma.

Level of Evidence

Level IV, therapeutic study.     

Is Intralesional Treatment of Giant Cell Tumor of the Distal Radius Comparable to Resection With Respect to Local Control and Functional Outcome?

Background

A giant cell tumor is a benign locally aggressive tumor commonly seen in the distal radius with reported recurrence rates higher than tumors at other sites. The dilemma for the treating surgeon is deciding whether intralesional treatment is adequate compared with resection of the primary tumor for oncologic and functional outcomes. More information would be helpful to guide shared decision-making.

Questions/purposes

We asked: (1) How will validated functional scores, ROM, and strength differ between resection versus intralesional excision for a giant cell tumor of the distal radius? (2) How will recurrence rate and reoperation differ between these types of treatments? (3) What are the complications resulting in reoperation after intralesional excision and resection procedures? (4) Is there a difference in functional outcome in treating a primary versus recurrent giant cell tumor with a resection arthrodesis?

Methods

Between 1985 and 2008, 39 patients (39 wrists) were treated for primary giant cell tumor of the distal radius at two academic centers. Twenty patients underwent primary intralesional excision, typically in cases where bony architecture and cortical thickness were preserved, 15 underwent resection with radiocarpal arthrodesis, and four had resection with osteoarticular allograft. Resection regardless of reconstruction type was favored in cases with marked cortical expansion. A specific evaluation for purposes of the study with radiographs, ROM, grip strength, and pain and functional scores was performed at a minimum of 1 year for 21 patients (54%) and an additional 11 patients (28%) were available only by phone. We also assessed reoperations for recurrence and other complications via chart review.

Results

With the numbers available, there were no differences in pain or functional scores or grip strength between groups; however, there was greater supination in the intralesional excision group (p = 0.037). Tumors recurred in six of 17 wrists after intralesional excision and none of the 15 after en bloc resection (p = 0.030). There was no relationship between tumor grade and recurrence. There were 12 reoperations in eight of 17 patients in the intralesional excision group but only one of 11 patients (p = 0.049) who underwent resection arthrodesis with distal radius allograft had a reoperation. There were no differences in functional scores whether resection arthrodesis was performed as the primary procedure or to treat recurrence after intralesional excision.

Conclusions

Resection for giant cell tumor of the distal radius with distal radius allograft arthrodesis showed a lower recurrence rate, lower reoperation rate, and no apparent differences in functional outcome compared with joint salvage with intralesional excision. Because an arthrodesis for recurrence after intralesional procedures seems to function well, we believe that intralesional excision is reasonable to consider for initial treatment, but the patient should be informed about the relative benefits and risks of both options during the shared decision-making process. Because arthrodesis after recurrence functions similar to the initial resection and arthrodesis, an initial treatment with curettage remains a viable, and likely the standard, mode of treatment for most giant cell tumors of the distal radius unless there is extensive bone loss.

Level of Evidence

Level III, therapeutic study.     

What Are the Factors That Affect Survival and Relapse After Local Recurrence of Osteosarcoma?

Background

Despite improvements in treatment of primary osteosarcoma, treatment of patients who have local recurrence is not well defined.

Questions/purposes

We asked: (1) What are the 5- and 10-year overall survival rates of patients with osteosarcoma who have a local recurrence? (2) What factors are associated with better survival after a local recurrence? (3) Does chemotherapy affect overall survival after local recurrence? (4) What are the rates of rerecurrence after amputation and with limb salvage?

Methods

We reviewed 45 patients with nonmetastatic conventional high-grade osteosarcoma who had local recurrence between 1985 and 2007, during which time 461 patients were treated for the same disease. Seven patients with known local recurrence were lost to followup and not included in our study. The median age of the patients was 18 years, and minimum followup was 2 months (median, 39 months; range, 2–350 months). The primary tumor was located in the extremity in 36 patients and the pelvis in nine. The median time from initial surgery for resection or amputation of the primary tumor to local recurrence was 18 months (range, 2–149 months). Ten recurrences developed in bone and 35 in soft tissue. In 21 of the latter cases, the soft tissue recurrence was undetectable on conventional radiographs. Prognostic factors for overall patient survival after recurrence were evaluated by Kaplan-Meier survival and Cox multivariate analyses.

Results

Overall postrecurrence patient survival was 30% at 5 years and 13% at 10 years. Cox multivariate analysis revealed that concurrent metastasis (relative risk = 4, p = 0.003) and recurrent tumor size 5 cm or larger (relative risk = 13, p < 0.0001) were independent predictors of worse survival. With the numbers available, treatment with chemotherapy after local recurrence was not associated with better survival (p = 0.54). Nine patients had a second local recurrence, and the actuarial risk of rerecurrence was 34% at 5 years. There was no difference in the frequency of rerecurrence between patients treated by amputation and wide local excision (p = 0.23).

Conclusions

The long-term prognosis of patients who have local recurrence of osteosarcoma is poor. Followup beyond 5 years is essential, because the disease can have a protracted course. Most recurrences develop in soft tissue and are difficult to see on plain radiographs alone. The size of the recurrence and presence of metastasis were independent prognostic factors, suggesting that early detection may be important. Chemotherapy did not have a significant effect on survival, and surgical eradication of recurrence with wide margins may be critical to maximizing the chances for survival.     

Low rate of active treatment of patients with hilar cholangiocarcinoma

Introduction

The results of surgical resection and palliative chemotherapy use in hilar cholangiocarcinoma (HC) have been well publicised but the proportion of patients able to undergo these treatments and the comparative outcomes in a population of patients with HC are less well known.

Methods

Patients with HC were identified by review of all patients undergoing percutaneous cholangiography over a nine-year period (2002–2010) in a tertiary facility. The treatment undertaken and outcomes were recorded.

Results

Overall, 68 patients were identified (37 female) with a median age of 70 years. Forty-five (66%) were treated solely by insertion of a metal stent (median survival 4.73 months) and nine (13%) also received palliative chemotherapy (median survival 13.7 months). Persisting jaundice after stent insertion was noted in 18 of 35 patients (51%) tested within one month of death. Fourteen patients (21%) underwent surgical resection (median survival 20.2 months).

Conclusions

Patients undergoing surgical resection had significantly longer survival than those receiving only a palliative stent but not compared with those also receiving palliative chemotherapy, with short-term follow-up. Only a third of patients, however, receive active treatment (surgery or chemotherapy) and improvements in long-term biliary palliation are needed.     

Effect of timing of pulmonary metastasis occurrence on the outcome of metastasectomy in osteosarcoma patients

Background

Complete metastasectomy is the best predictor of survival in patients with osteosarcoma pulmonary metastases. There has been some controversy in the literature regarding the prognostic significance of the timing of occurrence of lung metastasis.

Functional and oncologic outcomes after excision of the total femur in primary bone tumors: Results with a low cost total femur prosthesis

Background:

The extent of tumor may necessitate resection of the complete femur rarely to achieve adequate oncologic clearance in bone sarcomas. We present our experience with reconstruction in such cases using an indigenously manufactured, low-cost, total femoral prosthesis (TFP). We assessed the complications of the procedure, the oncologic and functional outcomes, and implant survival.

Materials and Methods:

Eight patients (four males and four females) with a mean age of 32 years, operated between December 2003 and June 2009, had a TFP implanted. The diagnosis included osteogenic sarcoma (5), Ewing''s sarcoma (1), and chondrosarcoma (2). Mean followup was 33 months (9–72 months) for all and 40 months (24–72 months) in survivors. They were evaluated by Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score, implant survival as well as patient survival.

Results:

There was one local recurrence and five of seven patients are currently alive at the time of last followup. The Musculoskeletal Tumor Society score for patients ranged from 21 to 25 with a mean of 24 (80%). The implant survival was 88% at 5 years with only one TFP needing removal because of infection.

Conclusions:

A TFP in appropriately indicated patients with malignant bone tumors is oncologically safe. A locally manufactured, cost-effective implant provided consistent and predictable results after excision of the total femur with good functional outcomes.