Surgical resection of lumbar synovial cysts is an effective treatment associated with very low morbidity. Synovial cysts are associated with increased grade and frequency of facet joint asteoarthritis but not with increased grade or frequency of degenerative disc disease compared with patients without cysts. In the author's opinion, at the present time, there is no reliable criterion which allows the development of a symptomatic spinal instability to be predicted in patients with a preoperative spondylolisthesis and therefore fusion as a first line procedure is still debatable.

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DW-MRI performed both at baseline and mid-course of neoadjuvant chemotherapy is an efficient method to predict further histological response of osteosarcoma. This method could be used as an early prognostic factor to monitor preoperative chemotherapy.

A 37-year-old man presented with a 2-year history of left hip pain. Pretherapeutic imaging demonstrated a 4 cm osteoblastoma located in the intertrochanteric region of the proximal femur, surrounded by extensive bone marrow edema. After multidisciplinary meeting, percutaneous cryoablation was decided and performed under computed tomography guidance using three cryoprobes to match the exact size and shape of the tumor, resulting in complete resolution of symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging follow-up demonstrated resolution of the bone marrow edema pattern and ingrowth of fat at the periphery of the ablation zone consistent with long-term healing of the tumor.

SALAS S., HUYNH T.‐K., GIORGI R., DEVILLE J.‐L., BOLLINI G., CURVALE G., BLESIUS A., GENTET J.‐C., BUI B., BOUVIER C. & DUFFAUD F. (2011) European Journal of Cancer Care20, 322–329
A study of 28 flat bone osteosarcomas: prognostic factors and early and long‐term outcome Limited information is available on clinical management of Flat Bone Osteosarcomas (FBOS). We retrospectively analysed prognostic factors and outcome. Twenty‐eight patients were treated in our institution. Survival curves were obtained by the Kaplan–Meier method and compared with the log‐rank test. The overall survival (OS) rates at 5 and 10 years were 52.4% and 45.8% respectively. The event‐free survival (EFS) rates at 5 and 10 years were 41.5%. The factors influencing EFS in univariate analysis were location, metastatic disease at diagnosis, effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, histological response and adequate local tumour control. Location, metastatic disease at diagnosis, effect of neoadjuvant chemotherapy, histological response and local recurrence were statistically correlated with OS. Multivariate analysis retained metastatic disease at diagnosis as prognostic factors of EFS and OS. Our results suggest a more favourable outcome of FBOS as the use of a treatment scheme based on the protocols for long bone osteosarcomas. However, an adequate local treatment is essential to ensure a better outcome.