Successful en Bloc Resection for Femoral Head Clear Cell Chondrosarcoma Without Biopsy: A Case Report
Abstract Background: Clear cell chondrosarcoma (CCCS) is a rare, low-grade, malignant chondrogenic bone tumour. This tumour commonly occurs at the epiphysis of long bones, particularly in the proximal femur. Case presentation: This report describes a 58-year-old man with right hip pain since 5 months. Plain radiography, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), and computed tomography (CT) revealed the characteristic appearance of chondroid mineralisation in the right femoral head, suggesting typical CCCS. Although a biopsy is the gold standard for definite diagnosis before treatment, wide resection with removal of the biopsy tract is thought to affect negatively affect surgical margin and postoperative hip function. En bloc resection without a biopsy and a hip hemiarthroplasty were performed instead. The pathological diagnosis was CCCS, and an adequate surgical margin was obtained. No local recurrence or distant metastases were found, and postoperative function was excellent at the final follow-up. Conclusion: The femoral head is a typical location of CCCS. Wide resection with adequate margins is the main treatment strategy for CCCS. When radiological features are typical, performing an en bloc resection without performing a biopsy is an acceptable treatment that may improve patient outcomes.