Surgical Management and Outcomes of Intracranial Chondromas: a Single-Center Case Series of 66 Patients.

Objective: Management of intracranial chondromas (ICDs) is difficult. This study aims to propose a tailored management strategy based on our management of ICDs.

Methods: A retrospective review was performed in 66 patients who received surgical operations at our institute. Clinical charts and radiographs were reviewed, follow-up was performed, and adverse factors for progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival were evaluated.

Results: The preoperative and postoperative Karnofsky performance status was 81.8 and 72.3, respectively. The mean tumor size was 3.5 cm. Gross total resection was achieved in 15 patients (22.7%). Six patients (10.3%) received postoperative radiation. After a mean follow-up duration of 85.5 months, recurrence occurred to 15 patients (28.8%) with surgery alone, and no recurrence was observed in patients receiving postoperative radiotherapy. Six patients (10.3%) died due to tumor progression. The risk factors affecting the PFS included age <33 years (hazard rate [HR] 6.876; 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.599-29.560; P = 0.010), tumor size ≥3.1 cm (HR 6.138; 95% CI 1.259-29.926; P = 0.025), tumor with evident atypia/mitotic activity (HR 4.672; 95% CI 1.352-16.152; P = 0.015), and partial resection (HR 12.841; 95% CI 3.004-54.896; P = 0.001). In all patients, the PFS rate was 75% at 5 years and 64% at 10 years; in addition, the overall survival rate was 93% at 5 years and 83% at 10 years.

Conclusions: The therapeutic strategy for ICDs should be individualized and should consider preoperative variables. Gross total resection was attempted if the tumors were resectable; otherwise, subtotal resection was an alternative. In patients with partial resection and evident atypia/mitotic activity, consultation with an oncologist for radiotherapy was recommended.