Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma of the orbit: an unusual site for a rare tumour

Mesenchymal Chondrosarcoma of the Orbit Attached to the Optic Nerve

Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (MCS) is a rare tumor in the orbit. Although optic nerve displacement is a common finding in intraorbital MCS, optic nerve tissue involvement in tumor has rarely been reported in huge tumors associated with intracranial extension. Herein the authors report a patient with MCS involving optic nerve tissue without intracranial extension. A 59-year-old woman with a 2-month history of progressive proptosis and normal vision presented to us. Computed tomography revealed a clearly outlined heterogeneous mass with calcified foci in its center, which was attached to the optic nerve, magnetic resonance imaging showed the mass to be isointense to gray matter on T1- and T2-weighted images. She underwent lateral orbitotomy and partial tumor excision. Histopathologic study confirmed MCS. She refused exenteration till 1 year but the tumor recurred and her vision decreased to no light perception. Then exenteration was performed with obtaining free margin and she is now free of tumor after 6 months without radiotherapy or chemotherapy. Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma must be differentiated from more common calcified tumors attached to optic nerve like meningioma.

Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma of the orbit: imaging features of CT and MRI

OBJECTIVE:

Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (MCS) of the orbit is a rare and aggressive form of chondrosarcoma. The purpose of this study was to retrospectively identify the imaging features of mesenchymal chondrosarcoma of the orbit.

METHODS:

This study included five patients with histologically confirmed MCS of the orbit who had undergone either CT, MRI, or both. Images were evaluated for the following: location, size, margin, CT density and presence or absence of calcification and/or ossification, MRI findings including dynamic contrast-enhancement and time-intensity curves.

RESULTS:

CT was performed in four of the five patients, and all four (100%) demonstrated calcification and ossification of the mass. MRI was performed in all five patients. In two patients (40%), the mass demonstrated areas of hyperintensity on T₁ weighted images.

CONCLUSION:

The presence of a well-defined, orbital mass with calcification and ossification on CT and, marked heterogenous enhancement and a rapid-washout pattern on dynamic MRI indicate a high probability of MCS of the orbit. In addition, MCS of the orbit can demonstrate areas of hyperintensity on T₁ weighted images, representing bone marrow fat tissue of ossification.

ADVANCES IN KNOWLEDGE:

MCS of the orbit is a highly malignant tumor, and early diagnosis by imaging is important. Radiologists should be aware of the imaging features of MCS of the orbit.

Extraskeletal orbital mesenchymal chondrosarcoma: surgical approach and mini review

Extraskeletal orbital mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (MC) is an extremely rare and highly aggressive tumour. It has characteristic radiological features and pathognomic histological biphasic pattern. Radical resection with negative margins is the mainstay of treatment; role of adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy is yet not well defined. We report a rare case of 18-year-old man who was diagnosed to have orbital MC. He presented with locally advanced disease with no vision in the affected eye. He underwent right orbital exenteration; a transcranial intradural approach was used to divide the optic nerve, and the temporalis muscle flap was utilised to fill the exenterated orbit. Though optic nerve involvement is rare in orbital MCs, a transcranial approach may be used effectively to avoid traction on optic chiasma and ensure margin-free resection in case of optic nerve involvement up to orbital apex. Unfortunately, prognosis remains dismal in MCs despite treatment.

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.

Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma of the orbit--case report

A 20-year-old woman presented with a rare case of intraorbital mesenchymal chondrosarcoma manifesting as a 6-month history of progressive ptosis and exophthalmos of her left eye. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a partially calcified round mass occupying the postbulbar space. Partial removal of the tumor via a left fronto-orbital approach was performed. The histological diagnosis was mesenchymal chondrosarcoma, and additional intraorbital exenteration was performed. Neither chemotherapy nor radiotherapy was performed. She was free from tumor recurrence at the 6-year follow-up examination. Radical resection, including exenteration if possible, is recommended for intraorbital mesenchymal chondrosarcoma.

Primary orbital mesenchymal chondrosarcoma: case report and review of the literature

Orbital mesenchymal chondrosarcoma is a very uncommon lesion of the bone and extraskeletal tissue. To our knowledge, approximately 30 cases have been described. We present the case of a 52-year-old male who presented with a history of progressive proptosis and chemosis of the right eye caused by an orbital tumor. He underwent exenteration of the right orbit, and the histological examination revealed a mesenchymal orbital chondrosarcoma. This paper attempts to describe a rare entity that should be considered in the differential diagnosis of calcified orbital lesions, especially in young adults. Complete removal of the tumor is the mainstay of treatment, but adjuvant radiation therapy and chemotherapy should be considered.