Chondroblastoma of Calcaneum- A Rare Case Diagnosed on Fine Needle Aspiration Cytology (FNAC)

Chondroblastoma is a rare, giant cell -rich benign neoplasm of bone. Fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) is gaining acceptance as a convenient and reliable method in preoperative diagnosis of chondroblastoma. Differential diagnosis of chondroblastoma on FNAC include giant cell-rich tumors and tumor like lesions such as aneurysmal bone cyst, giant cell tumor, chondromyxoid fibroma. Preoperative diagnosis of chondroblastoma is mandatory for treatment protocol and prognosis. We describe a case of 18 year old female patient who presented with painful swelling over right heel of one year duration. FNAC smears of swelling stained with Leishman and Giemsa stain showed neoplastic mononuclear chondroblasts showing round to oval nuclei, nuclear indentation, grooving and intranuclear inclusions with abundant vacuolated glassy cytoplasm, chicken wire calcification, multinucleated osteoclast like giant cells and chondromyxoid matrix. Histopathological examination of excised specimen revealed focal areas of mature cartilage with proliferating chondroblasts showing nuclear grooves and numerous giant cells. Thus confirming the diagnosis of chondroblastoma.