ISSN: 2329-910X
Clinical Research on Foot & Ankle
Make the best use of Scientific Research and information from our 700+ peer reviewed, Open Access Journals that operates with the help of 50,000+ Editorial Board Members and esteemed reviewers and 1000+ Scientific associations in Medical, Clinical, Pharmaceutical, Engineering, Technology and Management Fields.

Massive Synovial Chondromatosis of the Foot: A Case Report

Palmanovich Ezequiel1*, Kogan Tatiana2, Massrawe Sabri1, Ben David Dror1, Nyska Meir1 and Hetsroni Iftach1
1Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Meir General Hospital, Kfar Saba, Israel
2Pathology Service, Meir Medical Center, Kfar Saba, Israel
Corresponding Author : Dr. Palmanovich Ezequiel
Orthopedics Department Meir Medical Center
Tchernichovsky st. 59, Kfar-Saba-44281, Israel
Tel: +9729-747-2555
E-mail: ezepalm@gmail.com
Received August 25, 2013; Accepted February 25, 2014; Published February 28, 2014
Citation: Ezequiel P, Tatiana K, Sabri M, Dror DB, Meir N et al. (2014) Massive Synovial Chondromatosis of the Foot: A Case Report. Clin Res Foot Ankle 2:130. doi:10.4172/2329-910X.1000130
Copyright: © 2014 Ezequiel P, et al. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.
Related article at
DownloadPubmed DownloadScholar Google

Visit for more related articles at Clinical Research on Foot & Ankle

Abstract

Synovial Chondromatosis is an uncommon benign disease. The knee is most frequently affected, but SC has been described also at the foot and ankle. Patients present with complaints of pain, locking, instability of variable duration and a palpable mass. Diagnosis is often delayed until the time of surgery. In this case report we focus on the clinical signs, differential diagnosis and especially in pearls and pitfalls for the surgical procedure. Lateral approach for resection of the tumor improves the patient foot deformity and ambulation.

Abstract
Synovial Chondromatosis is an uncommon benign disease. The knee is most frequently affected, but SC has been described also at the foot and ankle. Patients present with complaints of pain, locking, instability of variable duration and a palpable mass. Diagnosis is often delayed until the time of surgery. In this case report we focus on the clinical signs, differential diagnosis and especially in pearls and pitfalls for the surgical procedure. Lateral approach for resection of the tumor improves the patient foot deformity and ambulation.
Keywords
Massive synovial chondromatosis; Case report; Clinical signs; Differential diagnosis; Surgical pearls and pitfalls
Introduction
Synovial chondromatosis (SC) is an uncommon proliferative process, most commonly involving the knee joint [1,2]. Hystologically, it is characterized by the development of foci of cartilage in the synovial membranes [3]. This then precedes the formation of loose bodies, which may result in pain, with or without joint catching and locking [1-5]. The objectives of surgical treatment are to decrease pain, improve ambulatory function, and delay early osteoarthritis.
In this report we present a case that involved massive SC formation at the lateral-plantar midfoot and hindfoot areas, leading to pain and ambulatory dysfunction. Clinical signs, differential diagnosis, and surgical pearls and pitfalls are emphasized. Resection of the mass through a lateral approach resulted in resolution of pain, normal ambulatory function, and no recurrence at one year after the operation.
Case Report
A 52-year-old man presented to our clinic with 20-year history of painful mass with swelling and deformity at the lateral-plantar aspect of his foot. This prevented him from wearing shoes. On physical exam, a lateral-plantar mass at the midfoot and hindfoot areas, measuring 8 cm by 6 cm, was seen and palpated (Figure 1).
Ankle range of motion (ROM) was not restricted, but there was restriction of subtalar ROM. There were no signs of local infection (i.e. skin color and temperature were normal, and no fluctuation or sinuses or fistulas were detected). Blood counts were within normal limits. On plain lateral ankle radiograph, 8*4 cm blastic stippled calcified lesion without clear borders, without areas of lysis, was seen at the lateral-plantar aspect of the hindfoot and midfoot (Figure 2).
CT scan and MRI images demonstrated peroneal sheath involvement, and no sinus tarsi or subtalar joint bodies. The mass was clearly separated from the calcaneal bone and appeared as a “pushing lesion”. Due to significant pain, inability to wear shoes comfortably, and gait dysfunction, surgery was indicated (Figure 3).
Under general anesthesia, a lateral approach to the midfoot and hindfoot areas was applied (Figure 4).
The Sural nerve was carefully dissected-out and protected with a vessel-loop. The peroneal tendons were explored. The sinus tarsi and the subtalar joint were also explored for loose bodies.
The tumor was then dissected-out as multiple cartilaginous masses (Figures 5 and 6). Once the mass was entirely removed, it appeared that a concavity was formed at the lateral aspect of the calcaneous, most likely as a result of direct pressure applied by the mass. Limited bone biopsy was taken to rule out bony infiltration (Figure 7). Two weeks after surgery full weight bearing was allowed. One year follow up, normal appearing foot with no recurrence (Figure 8).
Histologically, the mass disclosed mild cytological atypia, osseous metaplasia, and mixoid stromal changes (Figure 6). After surgery, pain and ambulatory dysfunction resolved. AOFAS (American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society) score [6] at one year after surgery was 89. The foot deformity did not recur (Figure 7).
Discussion
Synovial chondromatosis (SC) is a relatively uncommon benign disease of uncertain etiology. It is most frequently observed in males at their 4th to 6th decades of life, and usually involves only a single joint. The knee is most frequently affected, but SC has been described also at the hip, foot and ankle, shoulder and temporo-mandibular joints [2-5,7-11].
SC is characterized by the development of foci of cartilage in the synovial membrane with subsequent loose body formation [5,12]. It is believed to be caused by synovial metaplasia, although some indirect evidence suggests a neoplastic origin [5]. The disease process was classified into three distinct phases: 1) The early phase involves only the synovial membrane, with metaplastic islands of cartilage in the synovium, without loose bodies. 2) The transitional phase shows active intrasynovial proliferation of the cartilaginous masses and free loose bodies. 3) The later phase demonstrates only free, loose bodies, without any evidence of synovial metaplasia, but with occasional, slight inflammation [3].
SC is usually intra-articular, but extra-articular involvement has been reported [13]. Juxta-articular nodules present as soft-tissue masses, and they may be painful and progressively enlarge [14].
Patients present with complaints of pain, locking, instability of variable duration and a palpable mass. Symptoms can last for several years and the diagnosis is often delayed until the time of surgery [4].
On plain radiographs, smooth round calcified bodies are present with bone erosion. A CT scan can help differentiate SC from loose bodies secondary to degenerative osteoarthritis. MRI commonly shows areas of signal avoidance on all pulse sequences corresponding to calcifications. High signal on T2-weightd images are often associated with joint effusion. When SC penetrates bone, the margins are described as “pushing lesions”. The relative risk of malignant transformation is low and was reported as 5% [2].
Treatment objectives consist of decreasing pain and limiting the development of early osteoarthritis. All accessible loose bodies should be removed, and synovectomy is performed when the synovial membrane is seen to be producing more bodies [3]. Traditionally, SC of the ankle is treated by arthrotomy and debridement, but arthroscopic excision of the tumor has been recently described as well [15].
Differential diagnosis includes primarily myositis ossificans, tumoral calcinosis, and soft tissue osteosarcoma [16], but other disorders that may give rise to loose bodies should also be tought-off and include degenerative joint disease, osteochondritis dissecans, neurotrophic arthritis, tuberculous arthritis (rice bodies), and osteochondral fractures. To differentiate SC from low-grade chondromatosis, biopsy must include bone to rule out bone infiltration. Accurate diagnosis is important, because if the synovial origin of the cartilaginous proliferations is ignored, the evidence of cellular activity may lead to an erroneous diagnosis of chondrosarcoma [13].
Few reports discussed the presence of SC in the foot. These included the calcaneocuboid, tibiotalar, naviculocuneiform, and metatarsophalangeal joints [1,3,17-23].
The uniqueness of the case presented in this report is the massive involvement of the hindfoot and mid-foot areas, which made surgical excision challenging [24-31]. Each of the layers involved in and around the tumoral mass needed to be meticulously addressed to avoid damage to important intra and extra-articular structures (Table 1). This enabled complete excision of this multi-lobular mass with return to normal ambulation, and no recurrence at one year after the operation.
Summary
SC may appear as massive disfiguring tumor that lead to pain and significant ambulatory disability. Awareness of the differential diagnosis and meticulously performed surgical dissection are the key for successful management.
References

References

  1. value="1" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Cascino TL, Leavengood JM, Kemeny N, Posner JB (1983) Brain metastases from colon cancer. J Neurooncol 1: 203-209.

  2. value="2" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Sundermeyer ML, Meropol NJ, Rogatko A, Wang H, Cohen SJ (2005) Changing patterns of bone and brain metastases in patients with colorectal cancer. Clin Colorectal Cancer 5: 108-113.

  3. value="3" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Mongan JP, Fadul CE, Cole BF, Zaki BI, Suriawinata AA, et al.(2009) Brain metastases from colorectal cancer: risk factors, incidence, and the possible role of chemokines. Clin Colorectal Cancer8: 100-105.

  4. value="4" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Temple DF, Ledesma EJ, Mittelman A (1982) Cerebral metastases. From adenocarcinoma of the colon and rectum. N Y State J Med 82: 1812-1814.

  5. value="5" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Ruiz-Tovar J, Tartas A, Ramos JL, Miramón J, Limones M (2010) Cranial metastases: first sign of colorectal cancer. Is the resection of the primary non-complicated tumour indicated when the metastases have been resected? ClinTranslOncol 12: 154-156.

  6. value="6" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Gómez Raposo C, Mora Rillo M, Gómez Senent S, Robles Maruhenda A, Montoya F, et al. (2007) Brain metastases as the first sign of colon cancer. ClinTranslOncol 9: 742-743.

  7. value="7" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Succi L, Urrico GS, Prumeri S, Politi A, Latteri F (2000) Brain metastasis: first sign of colorectal carcinoma. ChirItal 52: 419-420.

  8. value="8" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Akiyoshi T, Fujimoto Y, Konishi T, Kuroyanagi H, Ueno M, et al. (2011) Prognostic factors for survival after salvage surgery for locoregional recurrence of colon cancer. Am J Surg 201: 726-733.

  9. value="9" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Ku G, Tan IB, Yau T, Boku N, Laohavinij S, et al. (2012) Management of colon cancer: resource-stratified guidelines from the Asian Oncology Summit 2012. Lancet Oncol 13: e470-481.

  10. value="10" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Garden OJ, Rees M, Poston GJ, Mirza D, Saunders M, et al. (2006) Guidelines for resection of colorectal cancer liver metastases. Gut 55: iii1-8.

  11. value="11" id="Reference_Titile_Link">National Comprehensive Cancer Network (NCCN) 2014.Guidelines for Coloncancer v3.

  12. value="12" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Patchell RA, Tibbs PA, Regine WF, Dempsey RJ, Mohiuddin M, et al. (1998) Postoperative radiotherapy in the treatment of single metastases to the brain: a randomized trial. JAMA 280: 1485-1489.

  13. value="13" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Farnell GF, Buckner JC, Cascino TL, O'Connell MJ, Schomberg PJ, et al. (1996) Brain metastases from colorectal carcinoma. The long term survivors. Cancer 78: 711-716.

  14. value="14" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Jung M, Ahn JB, Chang JH, Suh CO, Hong S, et al. (2011) Brain metastases from colorectal carcinoma: prognostic factors and outcome. J Neurooncol 101: 49-55.

  15. value="15" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Noordijk EM, Vecht CJ, Haaxma-Reiche H, Padberg GW, Voormolen JH, et al. (1994) The choice of treatment of single brain metastasis should be based on extracranial tumor activity and age. Int J RadiatOncolBiolPhys 29: 711-717.

  16. value="16" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Harji DP, Sagar PM, Boyle K, Griffiths B, McArthur DR, et al. (2013) Surgical resection of recurrent colonic cancer. Br J Surg 100: 950-958.

  17. value="17" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Gaspar L, Scott C, Rotman M,Asbell S, Phillips T, et al. (1997) Recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) of prognostic factors in three Radiation Therapy Oncology Group (RTOG) brain metastases trials. Int J RadiatOncolBiolPhys 745-751

  18. value="18" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Gaspar LE, Scott C, Murray K, Curran W (2000) Validation of the RTOG recursive partitioning analysis (RPA) classification for brain metastases. Int J RadiatOncolBiolPhys 47: 1001-1006.

  19. value="19" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Bradley KA, Mehta MP (2004) Management of brain metastases. Semin Oncol 31: 693-701.

  20. value="20" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Kocher M, Soffietti R, Abacioglu U, Villa S,Fauchon F,et al. (2011) Adjuvant whole-brain radiotherapy versus observation after radiosurgery or surgical resection of 1–3 cerebral metastases: results of the EORTC 22952-26001 study. J ClinOncol134-141.

  21. value="21" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Sun A, Bae K, Gore EM, Movsas B, Wong SJ,et al.(2011) Phase III trial of prophylactic cranial irradiation compared with observation in patients with locally advanced non-small-cell lung cancer: neurocognitive and quality-of- life analysis. J ClinOncol279-286.

  22. value="22" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Rwigema JC, Wegner RE, Mintz AH, Paravati AJ, Burton SA, et al. (2011) Stereotactic radiosurgery to the resection cavity of brain metastases: a retrospective analysis and literature review. StereotactFunctNeurosurg 89: 329-337.

  23. value="23" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Karlovits BJ, Quigley MR, Karlovits SM, Miller L, Johnson M, et al. (2009) Stereotactic radiosurgery boost to the resection bed for oligometastatic brain disease: challenging the tradition of adjuvant whole-brain radiotherapy. Neurosurg Focus 27:E7.

  24. value="24" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Jagannathan J, Yen CP, Ray DK, Schlesinger D, Oskouian RJ, et al. (2009) Gamma Knife radiosurgery to the surgical cavity following resection of brain metastases. J Neurosurg 111: 431-438.

  25. value="25" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Kwon KY, Kong DS, Lee JI, Nam DH, Park K, et al. (2007) Outcome of repeated radiosurgery for recurrent metastatic brain tumors. ClinNeurolNeurosurg 109: 132-137.

  26. value="26" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Steinmann D, Maertens B, Janssen S, Poston GJ, Schlag PM, et al.(2012) Hypofractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (hfSRT) after tumour resection of a single brain metastasis: report of a single-centre individualized treatment approach J Cancer Res Clin 1523-1529

  27. value="27" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Fokas E, Henzel M, SurberG, et al (2012). Stereotactic radiosurgery and fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy: comparison of efficacy and toxicity in 260 patients with brain metastases J Neurooncol91-98.

  28. value="28" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Benson AB 3rd, Bekaii-Saab T, Chan E, Chen YJ, Choti MA, et al. (2012) Rectal cancer. J NatlComprCancNetw 10: 1528-1564.

  29. value="29" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Nordlinger B, Sorbye H, Glimelius B, Poston GJ, Schlag PM et al.(2008) Perioperative chemotherapy with FOLFOX4 and surgery versus surgery alone for resectable liver metastases from colorectal cancer (EORTC Intergroup trial 40983): a randomised controlled trial. Lancet1007-1016.

  30. value="30" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Riquet M, Foucault C, Cazes A, Mitry E, Dujon A, et al. (2010) Pulmonary resection for metastases of colorectal adenocarcinoma. Ann ThoracSurg 89: 375-380.

  31. value="31" id="Reference_Titile_Link">Baek JY, Kang MH, Hong YS, Kim TW, Kim DY, et al. (2011) Characteristics and prognosis of patients with colorectal cancer-associated brain metastases in the era of modern systemic chemotherapy. J Neurooncol 104: 745-753.

--
Post your comment

Share This Article

Article Usage

  • Total views: 14911
  • [From(publication date):
    April-2014 - Sep 18, 2024]
  • Breakdown by view type
  • HTML page views : 10473
  • PDF downloads : 4438
Top