Epidemiology
A rare tumor of adolescents and young adults that usually sits in the epiphysis, near a joint. Persistent joint pain in an adolescent with an epiphyseal lesion warrants targeted study to protect the cartilage and the growth plate.
Basic features
It causes persistent joint pain, limping, or joint effusion, and can be mistaken for inflammatory or sports-related conditions.
Usual treatment
The usual treatment is extended curettage with filling of the defect, taking care to protect the joint cartilage and the growth plate if it is still open. In lesions that recur, are very destructive, or sit in an expendable bone, en-bloc resection is a valid alternative; in weight-bearing cartilage curettage is preferred so as not to sacrifice the joint.
Outcomes and prognosis
The 2020 WHO classification considers it a benign tumor: it can recur locally after curettage and, rarely, produce benign lung implants, so it requires specialized follow-up.