Case Reports
A Case of Telangiectatic Osteosarcoma in the Frontal Bone
2021 Volume 8 Issue 1 Pages 159-165
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2021 Volume 8 Issue 1 Pages 159-165
Telangiectatic osteosarcoma (TOS) is a subtype of osteosarcoma. TOS in the elderly and TOS in the skull are very rare. Here, we report a case of TOS in the frontal bone of an elderly patient. The patient was a 79-year-old woman who was identified as having a right frontal bone lesion. The patient was initially diagnosed with an intradiploic epidermoid cyst (IEC). A 60mm cystic lesion with bone destruction appeared 5 years later, which enlarged over 2 months. The fluid in the cyst seemed to be blood that had lost its clotting ability. Tumor and the surrounding tissue were resected. The postoperative course was favorable. Postoperative magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed no evidence of residual lesions. There was no metastases. Histopathologically, the cyst wall was composed of fibrous connective tissue and did not contain epithelial components. There were no skin appendages and keratinized tissues in the lesion. Based on these findings, the diagnosis changed to aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC). Subsequent immunohistochemical examinations confirmed that the MIB-1 index was 50% in some sections and there were atypical cells showing osteogenic properties in other sections. Based on these results, the patient was finally diagnosed with TOS. The differential diagnoses for cystic lesion presenting bone destruction include TOS, ABC, and IEC. In case of cystic lesion with bone destruction, early diagnosis based on histopathological study is important and complete resection with surrounding tissues is required, given the possibility of TOS.
Telangiectatic osteosarcoma (TOS) is a histologic subtype of osteosarcoma.1–4) TOS is estimated to account for approximately 1% of all osteosarcomas.5) Onset in the skull is very rare, and its clinical presentation is not well known. Here, we report a case of TOS in the frontal bone.
The patient was a 79-year-old woman who was diagnosed with vertigo and was identified as having a right frontal bone lesion (Fig. 1A and 1B). The patient was initially diagnosed with an intradiploic epidermoid cyst (IEC) and was followed up. Swelling of the right frontal region appeared 5 years later, which enlarged over 2 months, and the patient visited our institution for a medical examination.
Neurological examination found no abnormalities. An elastic soft mass measuring 6 cm in diameter was identified in the right frontal region. Blood tests showed no inflammatory reaction. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a cystic lesion measuring 60 mm × 50 mm × 47 mm in the right frontal bone. The bony structure of the lesion had disappeared, and dissociation between the inner and outer plates was observed in some sections (Figs. 1C and 1D). Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a homogeneous signal intensity within the lesion, and both T2-weighted imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging showed low signals. Contrast agents slightly enhanced the signal intensity of the cyst wall and the surrounding diploe. The boundary between the cyst and periosteum was clear, and the margins were smooth. The border of the dura mater was not clear (Figs. 1E and 1F). The fluid in the cyst obtained by percutaneous puncture was dark red and serous, which did not contain platelets and did not clot. Levels of hemoglobin, total protein, albumin, and glucose were slightly lower, those of total bilirubin and lactate dehydrogenase were higher, and those of sodium, potassium, chloride, aspartate aminotransferase, alanine aminotransferase, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, partial pressure of oxygen, and partial pressure of carbon dioxide were equivalent to venous blood. Other blood cell counts were normal; however, platelets were undetectable and the sample did not clot. The sample seemed to contain blood that had lost its clotting ability.
The patient underwent tumor resection based on the diagnosis of IEC. A loose connective tissue layer beneath the galeal aponeurosis was dissected, and the flap was everted, leaving a periosteum on the surface of the tumor (Fig. 2A). There was no macroscopic tumor infiltration in the flap. The tumor was punctured and aspirated, causing the cyst to collapse. The contents were dark red serum. The tumor adhered to the surrounding bone and was bluntly detached. A navigation system confirmed the range of normal bone tissue, and the surrounding bone was resected in the shape of a doughnut (Fig. 2B). The tumor tightly adhered to the dura mater, and detachment was not attempted. With the surrounding normal dura mater roundly incised, the tumor was resected together with the dura mater (Fig. 2C). There was no macroscopic tumor infiltration on the inner surface of the dura mater (Fig. 2D). Duraplasty was performed with an artificial dura mater, and cranioplasty was performed with an artificial bone (Fig. 2E). The patient followed an uneventful course without developing any complications, and the patient was discharged 12 days after the surgery. Postoperative MRI showed no evidence of residual lesions (Fig. 2F). A systemic search including contrast-enhanced CT and positron emission tomography performed in the subsequent follow-up revealed no metastases.
Histopathologically, the cyst wall was composed of fibrous connective tissue and did not contain epithelial components. The cyst has no septum structure. The content was mainly red blood cells; there were no skin appendages and keratinized tissues (Fig. 2G). The bone structure has no abnormal arrangement. Based on these findings, aneurysmal bone cyst (ABC) was also considered as a differential diagnosis. Subsequent histopathological examination revealed that there were highly atypical cells with intratumoral hemorrhage in some sections (Fig. 2H and 2I) and atypical cells showing osteogenic properties in other sections (Fig. 2J). Based on these results, the patient was finally diagnosed with TOS. Predominance of cystic lesion made the diagnosis TOS rather than other forms of osteosarcoma. Subcutaneous and dura mater infiltration were not observed.
TOS is a honeycomb-like cystic lesion composed of a cyst wall and septa. The septum is predominantly fibrous connective tissue and contains atypical cells. Atypical cells produce abnormal bone and osteoid.6) Spaces between septa are filled with blood that has lost its ability to clot; it presents fluid–fluid level. As with conventional osteosarcoma, the disease is more common in adolescent boys and occurs more commonly in the distal femoral and proximal tibial metaphysis. Onset in the elderly and in the skull are very rare. Given the susceptible age, an association between bone growth and onset has been suggested. The cause of primary TOS is unknown; fibrous dysplasia, radiation, and osteomyelitis are known as the cause of secondary TOS. TOS-specific gene abnormalities have not been reported. The tumor destroys surrounding bone tissue and enlarges within several months. Extraosseous involvement into subcutaneous or dura mater is not common. Distant metastases are observed in 10% of patients, and distant metastases to the lungs are reportedly more common than metastases to other locations.7) As risk factors for distant metastases, onset in patients aged ≥30 years and large tumor size have been identified.7,8) Treatment is complete resection of the primary tumor and chemotherapy to control metastases.
The differential diagnoses for TOS include ABC and IEC. Both are cystic lesions with bone destruction; imaging findings are similar to those of TOS. The characteristics of TOS, ABC, and IEC are shown in Table 1. ABC is a honeycomb-shaped cystic lesion composed of a cyst wall and septa similar to TOS. The cyst cavity is filled with blood that has lost its ability to clot; it presents fluid–fluid level.9,10) Histological findings for ABC are very similar to those of TOS, but differ in that ABC does not contain atypical cells. The incidence is high in patients aged ≤20 years, and incidence in the elderly is rare. ABC commonly occurs in the metaphysis of long tubular bones and the pelvis; it rarely occurs in the skull.11) Primary ABC accounts for approximately 70% of patients, and approximately 70% of these patients express CDH11-USP6-fused genes through the reciprocal chromosomal translocation t(16;17)(q22;p13). In secondary ABC, abnormalities in the CDH11 and USP6 genes are not observed, and the pathology appears to differ from primary disease. As precursor lesions, bone tumors such as giant cell tumors of the bone (19–39%), chondroblastoma, osteoblastoma, fibrous dysplasia, nonossifying fibroma, and simple bone cysts have been identified. Although rare, there were some reports on ABC secondary to trauma. Impairment of venous return in the cancellous bone can increase ABC rapidly. There was no report on extraosseous infiltration. Some reports describe malignant transformation to sarcoma after more than 5 years. IEC is a cystic lesion arising from stratified squamous epithelium with keratinization. The contents of cyst include keratin and cholesterol. It is more common between the ages of 40 and 60 years and affects the frontal, parietal, and occipital bones. There are over 200 case reports on IEC. Aberrant epidermal cells in the fetus are considered to be the origin.12) There are some reports on acquired onset due to trauma. IEC destroys surrounding tissues and enlarges slowly. Malignant transformation to squamous cell carcinoma has been observed in 2.4% of patients.13) Malignant transformation results in rapid enlargement. In our case, the cyst wall was shown to be mainly composed of fibrous connective tissue in the pathohistological examination, and immunohistological examination confirmed atypical cells with abnormal osteogenesis in the cyst wall. Based on these findings, our patient ruled out ABC without genetic test and was finally diagnosed with TOS.
| TOS | ABC | IEC | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Tissue of cyst wall | Fibrous connective tissue | Fibrous connective tissue | Stratified squamous epithelium |
| Component of cyst wall | Atypical cells forming bone and osteoid | Fibroblasts and osteoclast-type giant cells | Keratinization |
| Atypical cell | (+) in the septa | (–) | (–) |
| Content | Blood without ability to clot | Blood without ability to clot | Keratin, cholesterol |
| MRI | |||
| Content | Heterogeneous intensity, fluid–fluid level | Heterogeneous intensity, fluid–fluid level | T1WI: low, T2WI: high, DWI: high |
| Cyst wall | Gd-enhancement (+) | Gd-enhancement (+) | Gd-enhancement (+) in 25% |
| Mechanism | |||
| Primary | Unknown | t(16;17)(q22;p13) is suggested | Ectopic inclusion of epithelial cells |
| Secondary | Fibrous dysplasia, radiation, osteomyelitis | Tumor, trauma | Trauma |
| Susceptible | |||
| Age | 10–20 (30s in TOS in skull) | <20 | 40s–60s |
| Sex | Male | No difference | No difference |
| Site | Femur, tibia, humerus, pelvis | Femur, tibia, humerus, pelvis, spine | Frontal bone, parietal bone, occipital bone |
| Malignant transformation | – | Sarcoma (a few cases in the past) | Squamous cell carcinoma (2.4%) |
| Progression speed | Rapidly | Slowly (rapidly at times) | Slowly |
| Extraosseous invasion | (+) | (–) | (–) |
| Metastasis | Lung | – | – |
| Treatment | Removal, chemotherapy | Removal | Removal |
ABC: aneurysmal bone cyst, DWI: diffusion-weighed imaging, IEC: intradiploic epidermoid cyst, MRI: magnetic resonance imaging, TOS: telangiectatic osteosarcoma.
Since the progression of TOS is rapid, early diagnosis is required. ABC must be resected if enlarging and should be followed-up if not. Given the similarities in imaging findings between TOS and ABC, pathological biopsy is required for a conclusive diagnosis. IEC must be resected in symptomatic cases and should be followed-up if not. Although cystic lesions of the skull tend to be diagnosed as IEC from a frequency perspective, pathological biopsy is important given the possibility of TOS.
The prognosis of skull TOS has not been elucidated. Even if the patient is completely resected by surgery, additional treatment such as radiation therapy or chemotherapy may be necessary. In the present case, no additional treatment was given because the patient was older and it was unclear what treatment was effective. This issue needs further study.
Complete resection is the standard treatment for cystic lesions presenting with bone destruction because residual TOS, ABC, and IEC lead to recurrence. All of these lesions can involve infiltration into diploe and must be resected with adequate margins. TOS may infiltrate into periosteum, and IEC after malignant transformation may infiltrate periosteum and dura mater14,15); hence, these lesions should be resected including surrounding tissue. In this patient, the loose connective tissue beneath the galeal aponeurosis was dissected, and the surrounding normal bone and dura mater were resected all together.
Seven patients with TOS in the skull have been reported, including our patient.16–20) The details are shown in Table 2. In the described reports, cystic lesions were found on imaging or histological findings. TOS that arises in long tubular bones are frequently observed in patients between the ages of 10 and 19 years, whereas more than half of TOS in the skull occurs over the age of 40. Notably, there were two patients with Paget’s disease of bone. TOS secondary to Paget’s disease of bone was not reported except these two cases, whereas conventional osteosarcoma is known to occur secondarily in Paget’s disease of bone. Thus, TOS arising in the skull differs in clinical presentation from TOS arising in long tubular bones. This difference might indicate different etiologies. This assessment is conducted on a small number of patients, and further study in a larger population is required. The case described herein was an elderly patient with TOS in the frontal bone that rapidly increased 5 years after the identification of the lesion. Although no histological evidence was given, our case could have been a secondary TOS originating from precursor lesions.
| Authors | Year | Age/sex | Lesion | TOS type | Symptoms | Treatment | Reference |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Huvos et al. | 1982 | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | [16] |
| Huvos et al. | 1982 | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | n.d. | [16] |
| Donato et al. | 1997 | 75, Female | Parietal bone | Secondary (PD) | Swelling, hemiparesis | Removal | [17] |
| Whitehead et al. | 1998 | 48, Male | Sphenoid bone | Primary | Swelling, pain, blurred vision | Removal and chemoradiation | [18] |
| Merino et al. | 1999 | 79, Female | Frontal bone | Secondary (PD) | Swelling, pain | Partial removal | [19] |
| Patibandla et al. | 2011 | 30, Female | Occipital bone | Primary | Headache, nausea, vomiting | Removal and chemoradiation | [20] |
| Present case | 2019 | 79, Female | Frontal bone | Primary | Swelling | Removal | – |
n.d.: not described, PD: Paget's disease of bone, TOS: telangiectatic osteosarcoma.
We report a case of TOS in the frontal bone. Differential diagnosis of cystic lesions of the skull with bone destruction includes TOS, ABC, and IEC. It is difficult to make a diagnosis based only on image findings. Early diagnosis based on histopathological study is important, and complete resection that includes surrounding tissues is the standard treatment.
Informed consent has been obtained from the patient for this report.
We thank Dr. Kazuhiro Sakamoto for his helpful advice on histological findings. This study was not supported by any funding.
All authors have no conflict of interest.
