A Closer Look at Chondrosarcoma

X-ray of Chondrosarcoma in the hand.

Chondrosarcoma, a group of malignant bone tumors, is diagnosed in fewer than 1,000 patients a year in the United States. Rare diseases like chondrosarcoma underline the value of the Figure 1 platform: It’s a place where millions of healthcare professionals around the world can see and discuss detailed real-world cases they may never otherwise encounter in their everyday practices.

Here are some of the top chondrosarcoma cases on Figure 1 as shared and discussed by oncologists, orthopedic surgeons, and radiologists:

1. Multiple Osteochondromas Arising From the Pelvis

AP X-ray of pelvis showing multiple osteochondromas arising from the pelvis.

This AP X-ray of the pelvis  shared by the Radiology and Nuclear Medicine department of Cincinnati Children’s Hospital shows multiple osteochondromas arising from the pelvis.

“Many of the lesions arising from the pelvis are pedunculated while the lesions of the femurs are more sessile. Patients with multiple hereditary exostoses (bone spurs) are at higher risk of developing chondrosarcoma.” – Cincinnati Children’s Hospital

2. Chondrosarcoma treated with limb salvage surgery

X-ray of shoulder with medullary chondrosarcoma.

“Here’s a case of a 44-year-old woman with a pathological fracture of the humerus. Medullary chondrosarcoma can destroy and weaken the bone from the inside so much that remaining cortices aren’t strong enough for any kind of fixation. After studying her case with CT and MRI, the lead surgeon and his team decided to go for a reversed shoulder megaprosthesis. Rotator cuff tendons were reattached on the prosthesis.” – Orthopedic Surgeon

Included are images of the resected bone:

Resected bone from a case of medullary chondrosarcoma

Read a detailed explanation of the case here

Learn more about treating sarcoma with radiation therapy from Cancer, a journal of the American Cancer Society, on Figure 1

3. The Initial Diagnosis of Chondrosarcoma

X-ray of chondrosarcoma arising from the iliac bone.

“A 30-year-old male who complained of a painful mass above his left hip. Pain started 3 months prior to this X-ray according to the patient. This was the result a few months later: huge chondrosarcoma arising from the iliac bone.” – Orthopedic Surgeon

Removal of chondrosarcoma from the iliac bone

4. Ollier Disease and Chondrosarcoma

Ollier disease in hand

Ollier disease is a rare form of skeletal dysplasia that is characterized by benign tumors of the cartilage called enchondromas. Rarely, these tumors may be complicated by malignant transformation to chondrosarcoma. In this case shared by an orthopedic surgeon, a patient with Ollier disease developed a chondrosarcoma, necessitating amputation of the affected digits.

X-ray of Ollier disease in hand.

Published October 20, 2021


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