Surgical management of skull base chondroblastoma

Chondroblastoma is a rare tumor accounting for 1% of primary bone tumors. Chondroblastoma involving the skull base is exceedingly rare with approximately 60 cases reported. We reviewed our experience with chondroblastoma of the skull base with an emphasis on current lateral skull base approaches and long-term tumor control.

A retrospective case review at a tertiary neurotology private practice group was performed over a 20-year period. Five patients were identified with skull base chondroblastoma. All patients underwent surgical intervention, and success of surgery was determined by disease-free status at last follow-up. Mean follow-up time was 5.8 years.

Two patients underwent gross tumor removal as primary therapy. One patient underwent partial tumor removal at an outside institution, and follow-up magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated rapid growth of residual tumor. This patient was successfully treated with gross total removal of residual tumor with an infratemporal craniotomy approach. Near total tumor removal was performed in two patients because of intimate involvement of vital structures. At last follow-up, no patient had radiographic evidence of tumor recurrence. There were no significant postoperative complications.

Gross total or near total resection of skull base chondroblastomas through lateral skull base approaches results in long-term tumor control and low complication rates.