Skull base chondroblastoma with aneurysmal bone cyst–like changes treated with percutaneous radiofrequency ablation and doxycycline sclerotherapy: illustrative case

BACKGROUND: Chondroblastomas (CBs) are rare benign bone tumors that are often difficult to treat because of their locations. CBs can be even more challenging to successfully manage when they present alongside aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC)-like changes. To minimize operative morbidity, especially in hard-to-reach lesions, percutaneous approaches for both lesions have been individually described. We present a skull base CB with associated ABC-like changes treated by combining two different previously described percutaneous modalities. OBSERVATIONS: The authors report successful percutaneous treatment of a skull base CB with adjacent ABC-like changes in a 17-year-old male. The CB was treated with radiofrequency ablation (RFA) and the adjacent ABC area with doxycycline sclerotherapy. After 3 years of follow-up, there has been no clinical or radiological evidence of recurrence. LESSONS: CBs occur in the skull base and, as elsewhere in the body, can be associated with ABC-like changes. Successful percutaneous treatment of such a CB with ABC-like changes is possible by combining previously described techniques of RFA and doxycycline sclerotherapy.