Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma of the sellar region

Patient, Disease, and Treatment-Related Factors Affecting Progression-Free and Disease-Specific Survival in Recurrent Chondrosarcomas of the Skull Base

BACKGROUND

Recurrent skull base chondrosarcomas (CSA) are difficult to treat, and limited data are available to help guide subsequent therapy.

OBJECTIVE

To further characterize the natural history of CSA and identify treatment modalities that were most effective in prolonging progression-free (PFS) and disease-specific survival (DSS).

METHODS

We conducted a single-institution retrospective review of patients with recurrent skull base CSA from 1993 to 2021. Kaplan-Meier survival analyses for PFS and DSS were completed. Univariable and multivariable Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to identify patient-related, treatment-related, and disease-related factors that predicted PFS and DSS.

RESULTS

A total of 28 patients and 84 episodes of recurrence were included. One-year PFS was 70.6%, 5-year PFS was 28.9%, and 10-year DSS was 78.5%. The median time to first progression was 23.9 months (range, 2.8-282 months). In univariable Cox proportional hazards regression, male sex, higher grade histology, fourth or greater progression episode status, distal pattern of recurrence, and treatment of recurrence without surgery or with chemotherapy alone predicted worse PFS. Multivariable regression predicted shortened DSS in male patients (hazard ratio [HR] 0.16; P = .021) and higher-grade tumors (HR 0.22; P = .039). Treatment of recurrence with surgery was associated with, but did not significantly predict, improved DSS (HR 1.78; P = .11).

CONCLUSION

Several patient and disease-specific factors were associated with shorter PFS and DSS in recurrent skull base chondrosarcoma. For recurrences amenable to resection, surgery is recommended for treatment of recurrent CSA. Local recurrence management without surgery results in shorter PFS and DSS.

Endoscopic Endonasal Surgery for Uncommon Pathologies of the Sellar and Parasellar Regions

Endoscopic skull base surgery has become an integral part of the present neurosurgical armamentarium. The pioneering efforts in which the purely endoscopic transsphenoidal approach was introduced have triggered a growing tide of using the endoscopic endonasal procedures for a large variety of skull base lesions. Because of their anatomical peculiarities, lesions of the sellar and parasellar regions lend themselves very well to the endoscopic endonasal approaches. Apart from the common pathological entities, many other less frequent pathologies are encountered in the sellar and parasellar area. In this chapter, we review the surgical technique of the endoscopic endonasal transsphenoidal approach and its extensions applied to a variety of rare and uncommon pathological entities involving the sella turcica and clivus. An overview of these pathological entities is also presented and exemplified.

Sarcomas of the sellar region: a systematic review

PURPOSE AND METHODS

Sarcomas of the sellar region are uncommon and unexpected tumors. Here, we review the cases reported in literature via a systematic search.

RESULTS

Ninety-four patients, 58.5% male with mean age of 39.2 ± 17.2 years were included. Fifty-seven (62%) had soft tissue sarcomas (STS) and 35 (38%) bone sarcomas (BS). Sarcoma was a primary tumor in 66%, developed after radiotherapy in 31.9% and 7.4% were metastatic. Median time between radiotherapy and sarcoma development was 10.5 (11) years. Main presentation symptoms were visual disorders (87.9%), headache (61.5%) and III cranial nerve palsy (24.1%). After surgery, sarcoma persisted or recurred in 82.3% and overall mortality reported was 44.6% with 6.5 (14) months of median survival. Tumor appeared earlier in BS compared to STS (34.4 ± 15.1 vs. 42.6 ± 17.6 years), p = 0.034 and complete tumor resection was achieved more often (41.3% vs. 4.4%), p =  < 0.001. Condrosarcoma and rhabdomyosarcoma were more frequent subtypes among primary tumors while fibrosarcoma was among post-radiation sarcomas. Tumor size was larger in radiation associated sarcomas (mean maximum diameter 46.3 ± 9.3 vs. 29.1 ± 8.0 mm, p = 0.004) and persistency/recurrence was similar in both groups (70.1 vs. 73.3%, p = 0.259).

CONCLUSION

Sarcomas appear as mass effect symptoms in the middle aged population, mainly as primary tumors, but one third is associated with radiotherapy. Surgery is commonly not curative, mortality rate is high and death ensues shortly after diagnosis.

The diagnosis and management of primary and iatrogenic soft tissue sarcomas of the sella

PURPOSE

Soft tissue sarcoma (STS) of the sella is exceptionally rare. We conducted a case series, literature review, and nationwide analysis of primary and iatrogenic (radiation-associated) STS of the sella to define the clinical course of this entity.

METHODS

This study employed a multi-institutional retrospective case review, literature review, and nationwide analysis using the National Cancer Database (NCDB).

RESULTS

We report five patients who were diagnosed at three institutions with malignant STS of the sella. All patients presented with symptoms related to mass effect in the sellar region. All tumors extended to the suprasellar space, with the majority displaying extension into the cavernous sinus. All patients underwent an operation via a transsphenoidal approach with a goal of maximal safe tumor resection in four patients and biopsy for 1 patient. Histopathologic evaluation demonstrated STS in all patients. Post-operative adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy were given to 2 and 1 out of 4 patients with known post-operative clinical course, respectively. The 1-year and 5-year overall survival rates were 100% (5/5) and 25% (1/4). Twenty-two additional reports of primary, non-iatrogenic STS of the sella were identified in the literature. Including the three cases from our series, treatment included resection in all cases, and adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy were utilized in 50% (12/24) and 17% (4/24) of cases, respectively. The national prevalence of malignant STS is estimated to be 0.01% among all pituitary and sellar tumors within the NCDB.

CONCLUSIONS

We report the prevalence and survival rates of STS of the sella. Multimodal therapy, including maximal safe resection, chemotherapy, and radiotherapy are necessary to optimize outcomes for this uncommon pathology.

Low-Grade Chondrosarcoma In The Sellar Area: Case Report And Literature Review

Low-grade chondrosarcoma (LGC) is a very rare intracranial tumor, particularly in the sellar area. Herein, we describe an unusual case of LGC occurring in the sellar area. A 52-year-old man presented with diminution of vision for more than 3 months, but did not exhibit headaches reported in previous cases. MRI showed that the maximum size of the tumor was 7 cm on the left side of the saddle. We characterized the specific pathological characteristics. Histologically, the tumor had polypoid areas and a lobulated growth pattern under low-power examination. At high magnification, the tumor consisted of small cells with hyperchromatic nuclei in the cartilage matrix, with an alternating loose hypocellular zone and rich myxoid area. In our case, LGC needed to be distinguished from chordoma. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells showed diffuse positivity for S-100 and vimentin, IDH1 was weakly cytoplasm positive. The Ki-67 labeling index was less than 5%. Additionally, AE1/3, EMA, and CK19 were negative, which could be used to exclude chordoma. This case report expands the literature on LGC and will help clinicians and pathologists better understand this entity.

An Extended Endoscopic Endonasal Approach for Sellar Area Chondrosarcoma: A Case Report and Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Chondrosarcoma is a malignant tumor that originates from mesenchymal cells that have differentiated into chondrocytes, often growing laterally, rarely seen in the cranium, and seldom seen in the saddle area. We believe that only a few cases have been reported in the literature. We report a case of pituitary fossa chondrosarcoma, which was completely resected by an extended endoscopic endonasal approach, and a literature review.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 20-year-old man was admitted to hospital with bilateral temporal headache and blurred vision, without any history of sexual dysfunction or diabetes insipidus. Endocrine function was normal. Computed tomography of the head showed calcified sellar lesions and sellar bone destruction, which were closely associated with the right cavernous sinus. Magnetic resonance imaging showed saddle area space-occupying lesions, with low signal on the T1-weighted image and high signal on the T2-weighted image, uneven enhancement by enhanced scanning, and unclear pituitary display. The tumor was completely resected by an extended endoscopic endonasal approach and confirmed by magnetic resonance imaging. Postoperative pathology revealed conventional chondrosarcoma (World Health Organization grade II). Postsurgical visual acuity also improved. The patient did not receive radiotherapy or chemotherapy. No recurrence was found at 10-month follow-up.

CONCLUSIONS

Sellar region chondrosarcoma is rare. For space-occupying lesions in this area, chondrosarcoma should be considered and not necessarily pituitary adenoma, craniopharyngioma, meningioma, and chordoma. The extended endoscopic endonasal approach represents a good treatment option for sellar area chondrosarcoma.

Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma of bone and soft tissue: a systematic review of 107 patients in the past 20 years

Background

Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma(MCS) is a rare high-grade variant of chondrosarcoma. Consensus has not been reached on its optimal management. Resection with wide margins is usually recommended, but the effect of margins has been demonstrated by little positive evidence. Moreover, the effectiveness of adjuvant chemo- and/or radiotherapy remains controversial.

Objectives

To describe the clinical characteristics and outcomes of MCS of bone and soft tissue, to assess the efficacies of surgery, chemotherapy and radiation, and finally to deliver a more appropriate therapy.

Materials and Methods

We reviewed EMBASE-, MEDLINE-, Cochrane-, Ovid- and PubMed-based to find out all cases of MCS of bone and soft tissue described between April 1994 and April 2014. Description of treatment and regular follow-up was required for each study. Language was restricted to English and Chinese. Issues of age, gender, location, metastasis, and treatment were all evaluated for each case. Kaplan-Meier Method and Cox Proportional Hazard Regression Model were used in the survival analysis.

Results

From the 630 identified publications, 18 meeting the inclusion criteria were selected, involving a total of 107 patients. Based on these data, the 5-, 10-and 20-year overall survival are 55.0%, 43.5% and 15.7% respectively. The 5-, 10-, 20- year event-free survival rates are 45.0%, 27.2% and 8.1%, respectively. Treatment without surgery is associated with poorer overall survival and event-free survival. Negative surgical margins could significantly bring down the local-recurrence rate and are associated with a higher event-free survival rate. Chemotherapy regime based on anthracyclines does not benefit the overall survival. The addition of radiation therapy is not significantly associated with the overall or event-free survival. However, we recommend radiation as the salvage therapy for patients with positive margin so as to achieve better local control.

Conclusions

This review shows that surgery is essential in the management of MCS of bone and soft tissue. Appropriate adjuvant therapy may reduce local recurrence, but cannot benefit the overall survival.

Cranial chondrosarcoma and recurrence

The literature regarding recurrences in patients with cranial chondrosarcoma is limited to small series performed at single institutions, raising the question if these data precisely reflect the true recurrence of this tumor for guiding the clinician in the management of these patients. An extensive systematic review of the English literature was performed. The patients were stratified according to treatment modality, treatment history, histological subtype, and histological grade, and the recurrence rates were analyzed. A total of 560 patients treated for cranial chondrosarcoma were included. Five-year recurrence rate among all patients was 22% with median follow-up of 60 months and median disease-free interval of 16 months. Tumor recurrence was more common in patients who only received surgery or had mesenchymal subtype tumors. Our systematic review closely reflects the actuarial recurrence rate and provides predictive factors in the recurrence of cranial chondrosarcoma.

A systematic review of intracranial chondrosarcoma and survival

Most data regarding survival in patients with chondrosarcoma are limited to case studies and small series performed at single institutions. A systematic review was performed to study the relationship between potential prognostic factors and survival. The survival rates were analyzed according to modality of treatment, treatment history, histological subtype, and histological grade. A total of 560 patients with intracranial chondrosarcoma were analyzed. Median follow-up time was 60 months. The 5-year mortality among all patients was 11.5% with median survival of 24 months. Mortality at 5 years was significantly greater for patients with tumors of higher grade, or of the mesenchymal subtype, or who had received surgical resection alone. The results of our systematic review provide useful data in predicting survival among intracranial chondrosarcoma patients.

Synovial sarcoma of the sellar region

Primary sarcomas of the sellar region are uncommon, although a wide variety have been reported. To date, no cases of primary synovial sarcoma have been described as occurring at this site. We report an immunohistochemically and molecular genetically confirmed primary synovial sarcoma involving the sellar/parasellar region and cavernous sinus in an adult male. Subtotal resection and radiosurgery proved to be efficacious. The spectrum of primary sellar region sarcomas is summarized.