Successful en bloc resection for femoral head clear cell chondrosarcoma without biopsy: A case report

Clear cell chondrosarcoma (CCCS) is a rare, low-grade, malignant chondrogenic bone tumour. This tumour commonly affects the epiphysis of long bones, particularly in the proximal femur. The present study reported on the case of a 58-year-old male with right hip pain of five months duration. Plain radiography, magnetic resonance imaging and computed tomography scan revealed the characteristic appearance of chondroid mineralisation in the right femoral head, suggesting typical CCCS. Although biopsy is the gold standard for definite diagnosis prior to treatment, wide resection with removal of the biopsy tract is thought to negatively affect the surgical margin and postoperative hip function. Therefore, en bloc resection without any biopsy and a hip hemiarthroplasty were performed. The pathological diagnosis was CCCS and an adequate surgical margin was obtained. No local recurrence or distant metastases were detected and postoperative function was excellent at the final follow-up. The femoral head is a typical location of CCCS. Wide resection with adequate margins is the main treatment strategy for CCCS and when radiological features are typical, en bloc resection without a biopsy is an acceptable treatment option to improve patient outcomes.