Chondrosarcoma - Causes, Symptoms, Diagnosis and Treatment

Chondrosarcoma - One of the most common malignant tumors of the skeleton. It comes from the cartilage. Most often occurs in flat bones of the shoulder and pelvic girdle, however, can be found in the long bones. It may develop on the bones or unmodified form as a result of degeneration of some benign tumors. Manifested by progressive pain and swelling in the affected area. In some cases, there is a local increase in temperature, the network expansion of the saphenous veins of the tumor area and limitation of movement in the nearby joint. There are several current options - from relatively favorable, with slow growth and late metastasis to negative, with the rapid growth and the early appearance of metastases. surgical treatment. Prognosis depends on the version of the course and the possibility of radical surgery.

  • Classification chondrosarcoma
  • Symptoms of chondrosarcoma
  • Features metastatic chondrosarcoma
  • Diagnosis of chondrosarcoma
  • Treatment of chondrosarcoma
  • Chondrosarcoma - treatment

  • Chondrosarcoma


    bone tumors. Most pelvic bones are affected, the bones of the shoulder girdle, ribs, shoulders and thighs. Chondrosarcoma appears gradually intensified pain and increasing swelling in the affected area. Surgical treatment - radical surgery, in which the removal of tumors produced together with the surrounding tissues.

    Around 60% of cases the disease is diagnosed in middle-aged and elderly patients (40-60 years). However, suffer from this disease are people of all ages. The earliest appearance of tumors observed at the age of 6 years, at the latest - at the age of 90 years. In men, chondrosarcoma is found in 1.5-2 times more often than women.

    Chondroma
  • Hondromiksoidnye fibroids
  • Chondroblastoma
  • Osteochondral exostoses
  • Ollier disease-Maffuchi (chondromatosis bones)


  • Primary chondrosarcoma detected in 90% of cases, secondary - 10% of cases. Taking into account the structural features of the following types of chondrosarcoma:

  • Typical
  • Clear-
  • Anaplastic
  • Undifferentiated


  • In addition, there is a classification grade chondrosarcoma taking into account features of the tumor, found during histological examination:

  • 1 degree of malignancy. Intercellular substance is predominantly chondroid tissue in which chondrocytes are arranged with small dense nuclei. Multicore cells is small, mitotic figures are absent.
  • 2 degree of malignancy. Intercellular substance often myxoid, cells more than in grade 1 marked accumulation of cells at the periphery of the lobules. The nuclei are enlarged, identifies individual shapes mitosis. There are zones of destruction (necrosis).
  • 3 degree of malignancy. Myxoid intercellular substance. The cells are located in the intercellular substance groups or strands. Revealed a large number of cells of irregular or star-shaped. Many polynuclear cells and cells with enlarged nuclei. Observed mitotic figures. There are extensive necrotic foci.


  • The higher the degree of malignancy of chondrosarcoma, the greater the likelihood of early metastasis and recurrence after surgical removal of the tumor.

    orthopedic, trauma or oncologists) takes no more than 1-3 months. The main complaint, as in the previous case, is a pain in the site of the lesion, sometimes aggravated at night and disappears after rest. However, poorly differentiated forms, tumor pain resistant to analgesics action. Pain is different persistence and fast growing. Swelling is also growing faster than the relatively favorable scenario flow. Increased local temperature, limitation of movement in the adjacent joints and expansion of the saphenous veins occur with the same frequency as that of low-grade tumors.

    Low-grade chondrosarcoma forms tend to occur in the young and youthful age, and have a higher recurrence rate.

    For all types of large chondrosarcoma located in the pelvic bones, can occur a number of characteristic symptoms caused by the pressure of the tumor to adjacent organs and tissues. When compression of the sciatic plexus there are pains, extending to the buttock and hamstring. When compression of the bladder neck may urination difficulties. When compression of the iliac veins may develop unilateral edema of the lower limb on the affected side.

    X-rays revealed the hearth of destruction of irregular shape with indistinct contours, usually located in metadiaphysis. Sometimes the tumor looks speckled because of small foci of calcification. The bone around the hearth inflated.

    When peripheral chondrosarcomas on radiographs revealed contrasting education lumpy form with indistinct contours, located on the outer surface of the bone. In the transition zone between the normal and the altered bone tumor tissue is marked uneven seal. Cortical bone in this area is uneven. As with central chondrosarcoma, mottle can be detected due to the calcification areas.

    For further diagnosis perform a biopsy. Fence material is made from several sections of the tumor. During the histological examination is determined by the degree of malignancy of chondrosarcoma.

    Typically, these studies sufficient for an accurate diagnosis. In some cases, you may need additional methods: MRI bone CT scan and bone scan.

    To detect metastases in the lungs in patients with chondrosarcoma performed chest radiography.

    endoprosthesis.

    When 3-grade chondrosarcomas may require radical surgery - disarticulation or amputation of the affected limb.

    If, due to the general contraindications or inaccessibility of its surgical removal of the tumor is not possible, carried out chemotherapy and radiation therapy. However, these methods are only palliative, aimed at slowing the growth of chondrosarcoma, and do not provide a cure.

    The prognosis depends on the degree of malignancy hodrosarkomy. At 1 year survival level of 90% at 2 degrees - 45-60% with 3 degree - about 30%.