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Quote: In-Depth At Children’s Hospital Boston, we understand that you may have a lot of questions if your child is diagnosed with a chondroblastoma. Will it affect my child long term? What do we do next? We’ve provided some answers to those questions on this site, and when you meet with our doctors, they can fully explain your child’s condition. What is chondroblastoma? Every child has chondroblasts—specialized, cartilage-producing cells. But sometimes, these cells can grow out of control and cause a benign (non-cancerous) tumor known as a chondroblastoma. These tumors are usually found in the ends of long bones, such as the thighbone, upper arm bone or shinbone. Sometimes they grow in the pelvis or the hip socket. While a chondroblastoma is considered a benign tumor, it does have the potential to spread (####stasize) to the lungs. How serious is chondroblastoma? Why is it a problem? Although benign and not life-threatening, chondroblastoma is a slow-growing tumor that weakens the bone and causes kids a lot of pain. Chondroblastoma is also hard to diagnose; it can cause teens and their families a great deal of frustration while doctors go through the process of ruling out other conditions with similar symptoms. What causes chondroblastoma? Chondroblastoma occurs when a single chondroblast (a cell that develops into a cartilage-producing cell) abnormally divides, and continues to divide, out of control. Why this occurs is unknown; research has shown that there’s no apparent connection between chondroblastoma and trauma. Is chondroblastoma common? No, chondroblastoma is a very rare type of benign bone tumor. It appears more often in boys than girls and tends to occur during a child’s teenage years, around the time that the growth plates start to close. What are the signs and symptoms of chondroblastoma? While symptoms may vary from child-to-child, the most common include: ongoing pain, usually severe, in the affected area swelling joint stiffness decreased range of motion limping The symptoms of chondroblastoma may resemble other medical problems, some of which are very common and easy to treat, others of which could be more serious. The symptoms listed above are common but aren’t all the possible symptoms. So, it’s important that your child be evaluated by a doctor to obtain an accurate diagnosis. How do you diagnose chondroblastoma? Doctors use some combination of the following techniques to diagnose chondroblastoma: physical exam x-rays MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) computed tomography scan (CT, CAT scan) bone scan biopsy or tissue sample from the tumor How do you treat chondroblastoma? Specialists usually treat chondroblastoma with surgery. The tumor often occurs near a joint, making it a challenge to remove. For details, see Treatment and Care. Does my child’s bone growth affect how you treat his chondroblastoma? The majority of kids who develop chondroblastomas are older teens whose growth plates are starting to close; so their growth plates are unlikely to be affected by surgery to remove the tumor. But with younger teens or children, surgeons take extra care not to disturb the growth plate when removing the tumor. How long after treatment will it take for my child to feel better, and heal? Teens and children often feel better almost immediately after surgery, which usually involves bone grafting. It takes about two to three months for a knee or leg graft to heal, and kids usually use crutches for much of that time. Arms heal a bit faster, since the body puts less physical stress on the arm. Is there a risk of early arthritis when my child grows up? Even with successful surgery to remove the chondroblastoma, if the tumor involved the bones of a joint there’s still some risk of early arthritis (joint inflammation) when a child reaches adulthood. Will my child be OK? Your child’s long-term health outlook after surgery for chondroblastoma is very good, although the condition can recur. It may require multiple operations to eventually be free of the tumor, but it helps to remember that this is a benign tumor, and that with timely treatment it won’t spread. At Children’s, our research into bone problems means that we can provide your child with the most innovative care available. The overwhelming majority of children treated for chondroblastoma at Children’s have corrections that enable their bones to grow and function normally—so they can walk, play, grow and live active lives. How can Children’s Hospital Boston help? The team in our Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor Program is known for innovative treatments and a research-driven approach. Children’s is home to the world’s most extensive pediatric research enterprise, and we partner with elite health care and biotech organizations around the globe. But as specialists in family-centered care, our doctors never forget that your child is precious, and not just a patient. What new research is Children’s doing regarding chondroblastomas, other bone tumors and soft tissue tumors? In addition to a wide variety of clinical trials, Children’s also conducts extensive laboratory research to identify new treatments and improve therapies for bone and soft tissue tumors. For more on Children’s extensive orthopedic research, see Research and Innovations. FAQs Q: What is a chondroblastoma? A: Chondroblasts—specialized cells that normally develop into chondrocytes, the cells that produce cartilage—sometimes, can grow out of control and cause a benign (non-cancerous) tumor known as a chondroblastoma. These tumors are usually found in the ends of long bones, such as the thigh bone, upper arm bone or shin bone. Sometimes they grow in the pelvis or the hip socket. While a chondroblastoma is considered a benign tumor, it does have the potential to spread (####stasize) to the lungs—which is why prompt treatment is important. Q: If my child has a chondroblastoma, will he be OK? A: Your child’s long-term health outlook after surgery for chondroblastoma is very good, although the condition can recur. It may require multiple operations to eventually be free of the tumor, but it helps to remember that this is a benign tumor and that with timely treatment it won’t spread. Q: What are the signs and symptoms of a chondroblastoma? A: While symptoms may vary from child-to-child, the most common include: ongoing pain, usually severe, in the affected area swelling joint stiffness decreased range of motion limping The symptoms of chondroblastoma may resemble other medical problems. So, it’s important that your child be evaluated by a doctor to obtain an accurate diagnosis. Q: How is chondroblastoma usually diagnosed? A: physical exam x-rays MRI (magnetic resonance imaging) computed tomography scan (CT, CAT scan) bone scan biopsy or tissue sample from the tumor Q: How does Children’s treat chondroblastoma? A: Chondroblastoma is usually treated with surgery. The tumor can often occur near a joint, making it a challenge to remove. For details, see Treatment and Care. Q: Where will my child be treated? A: Children treated through the Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor Program receive inpatient (overnight) and outpatient (day) care at Children’s Hospital Boston. Causes Chondroblasts are specialized cells found at the end of bones that normally produce cartilage. Sometimes, these cells can grow out of control and cause a benign tumor known as a chondroblastoma. The cause of this condition is unknown and is being researched. Signs and symptoms While symptoms may vary from child-to-child, the most common include: ongoing pain, usually severe, in the affected area swelling joint stiffness decreased range of motion limping The symptoms of chondroblastoma may resemble those of other medical problems. So, it’s important that your child be evaluated by a doctor to obtain an accurate diagnosis. When to seek medical advice A bone tumor should be treated quickly and correctly—the sooner a chondroblastoma is diagnosed and treated, the better the chances for a successful removal of the tumor. Consult your pediatrician immediately if your child has: ongoing pain, usually severe, in the affected area swelling joint stiffness decreased range of motion limping Questions to ask your doctor If your child is diagnosed with chondroblastoma, you may feel a bit overwhelmed. It can be easy to lose track of the questions that occur to you. Lots of parents find it helpful to jot down questions as they arise—that way, when you talk to your child’s doctors, you can be sure that all your concerns are addressed. If your child is older, he may want to ask questions, too. Some of the questions you may want to ask include: What does a diagnosis of a chondroblastoma mean for my child? How does this differ from a cancerous tumor? How will you manage my child’s symptoms? What kind of surgery will my child have? Are there any alternatives to surgery? How long will recovery take? What are the possible short and long-term complications of treatment? What is the long-term outlook for my child? How likely is it that the chondroblastoma will come back? What services are available to help my child and my family to cope? Who’s at risk The teenage years are when kids are more likely to develop chondroblastoma. Boys are slightly more likely than girls to develop the tumor. Beyond these factors, there’s no way to predict who’s at risk for developing a chondroblastoma. Complications Although complications after surgery for chondroblastomas are relatively uncommon, they can occur and can include: post-surgery complications, including: infection damage to blood vessels or nerves early arthritis premature growth plate closure (for children with open growth plates) Long-term outlook Our research into bone tumors means that we can provide your child with the most innovative care available. As a result, the overwhelming majority of children treated for chondroblastoma at Children’s have treatment that enables their bones to grow and function normally—so they can walk, play, grow and live active lives. For teens If you’re teen with a chondroblastoma, you have a lot to cope with. Besides the typical issues any teenager faces—from social acceptance to body changes and more—you’ll also have to deal with medical appointments and procedures, and with limiting your activities while you get better. If you’re usually active, sitting on the sidelines for a while as you heal can be frustrating. If you feel down, angry or anxious through this important time in your life, speak to your doctor, parent or counselor to get help—they’re all on your team, and they want to help. And remember that Children’s Bone and Soft Tissue Tumor Program is always here for you, too. Prevention Since there’s no way to predict who’s at risk for developing a chondroblastoma, there’s also no known way to prevent one from developing. Chondroblastoma glossary benign: non-cancerous; word is primarily used to describe a non-cancerous tumor, such as chondroblastoma biopsy: tissue sample from the tumor: provides definitive information about the type of tumor; in chondroblastoma, this is collected during surgery The Center for Families at Children’s: gateway to services and amenities at Children’s; dedicated to helping families find the information, services and resources they need to understand their child’s medical condition and take part in their care cartilage: smooth, rubbery tissue that cushion the bones at the knee joint, between the vertebrae and other areas; allows the bones to move easily without pain chondroblastoma: a benign bone tumor that results from chondroblast cells (see below) that grow out of control chondroblasts: specialized, cells that normally develop into chondrocytes, the cells that make cartilage computed tomography (CT, CAT) scan: a non-invasive procedure that uses X-ray equipment and powerful computers to create detailed, cross-sectional images of your child’s body. The CT scanner is a large machine that looks like a big doughnut. diagnosis, diagnostics: identifying disease or injury through examination, testing and observation femur: thigh bone (upper leg); the longest and strongest of your child’s bones; one of the three long bones in the leg growth plate (physis): areas of cartilage at either end of a bone from which growth occurs. As key components of a child’s developing skeletal system, growth plates largely turns to bone (ossify) as a child grows. humerus: long bone of the upper arm internal fixation: ####l screws and pins surgically inserted inside the bone to hold bone fragments in place to allow alignment and healing MRI (magnetic resonance imaging): produces detailed images of organs and structures within the body; best for looking at soft/non-bone tissues such as ligaments, tendons, muscle, and cartilage. non-surgical (non-operative) treatments: alternatives to surgery orthopedic surgeon, orthopedist: a physician specializing in surgical and non-surgical treatment of the spine, skeletal system and associated muscles, joins and ligaments orthopedics: the medical specialty concerned with diagnosing, treating, rehabilitating and preventing disorders and injuries to the spine, skeletal system and associated muscles, joints and ligaments physis, physes: growth plate(s) at both ends of a bone; the source of bone growth post-operative (post-op): after surgery pre-operative (pre-op): before surgery skeletally immature: in pre-pubescent or early-adolescent children, the bones of the skeleton haven’t yet fully grown x-ray (radiograph): common, diagnostic radiology; shows the dense structures, including bones, inside your child’s body. X-rays are fast, non-invasive and easy to take, making them particularly useful for emergency diagnoses. First in the nation Ranked first in the nation for by U.S. News and World Report, our pediatric orthopedic and cancer teams offer comprehensive care for a wide variety of congenital and acquired disorders.