Malignant proximal fibular tumours: a case series of 17 patients

Acta Orthop Belg. 2011 Dec;77(6):795-801.

Abstract

The aim of this study was to establish whether the proximity of significant neurovascular structures around the surgical excision results in higher rates of recurrence and poorer survival outcomes. A retrospective study of all patients treated at a regional bone tumour unit for proximal fibula Ewing's tumours and osteosarcomas was conducted, and in total 17 patients were identified. The recurrence rate of all cases was 29.4% and the overall 5 year survival was 70.5%. The recurrence rate just for osteosarcoma was 50%, which compared poorly to published recurrence rates throughout the appendicular skeleton. The 5-year survival for proximal fibula osteosarcoma of 50% was also worse than generalised survivorship data reported in non-metastatic osteosarcoma. This series demonstrates that malignant proximal fibula tumours are a difficult entity to manage and recurrence rates and patient survival are poor for osteosarcoma.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Aged
  • Bone Neoplasms / mortality
  • Bone Neoplasms / surgery*
  • Child
  • Female
  • Fibula* / surgery
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Middle Aged
  • Neoplasm Recurrence, Local
  • Osteosarcoma / mortality
  • Osteosarcoma / surgery*
  • Sarcoma, Ewing / mortality
  • Sarcoma, Ewing / surgery*
  • Survival Rate
  • Young Adult