Mesenchymal Chondrosarcoma of the Sacrum: A Case Report and Review of the Literature

Mesenchymal Chondrosarcoma. An Analysis of Patients Treated at a Single Institution

Background

We analyzed clinical and treatment-related factors influencing the outcome of patients with mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (MC). Twenty-six patients (median age, 31 years) were identified using the Tumor Center and Chemotherapy Department database of the study institute.

Methods

Patients received surgery (24 patients) and/or radiotherapy (5 patients), and chemotherapy (12 patients).

Results

After a median follow-up of 48 months (7-237 months) 10 patients were alive. The 10-year overall survival (OS) was 27% in those who achieved complete surgical remission and 0% in those who did not (P = 0.0007). A worse 10-year probability of OS was observed in patients who were metastatic at presentation (metastatic 0%, localized 31%, P = 0.02), in patients with soft tissue MC (soft tissue MC 0%, bone MC 29%, P = 0.06) and in hemangiopericytoma-like MC (hemangiopericytoma-like MC 0%, Ewing's-like MC 33.5%, P = 0.9). In those patients who achieved complete surgical remission, the 10-year DFS was 76% for those who received chemotherapy and 17% for those who did not (P = 0.008).

Conclusions

Our experience confirmed the importance of complete surgical remission in MC treatment and suggests that the addition of chemotherapy should offer a benefit in terms of DFS. Due to the rarity of MC, multicentrer studies are needed to identify the most active chemotherapy regimen.

Sacral mesenchymal chondrosarcoma in childhood: a case report and review of the literature

Mesenchymal chondrosarcomas are rare malignant tumors in pediatric age group. The authors present a case of mesenchymal chondrosarcoma located in the sacrum in a 10-year-old-girl that was successfully treated with chemotherapy and radiotherapy after surgical excision. According to the authors' literature search, the patient is the first reported case of pediatric sacral primary mesenchymal chondrosarcoma. Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma cases in pediatric age group published in English literature was reviewed.

Imaging of the Lumbar Spine Neoplasms

The most common lumbar spine tumors are metastatic disease, myeloma, and hemangioma. Primary osseous lesions of the lumbar spine are unusual. When encountered, they often exhibit characteristic imaging properties, aiding the radiologist to provide a short list of differential diagnoses. We provide a discussion of imaging appearance of lumbar spine neoplasms. Emphasis of this review is on osseous lesions. Few common neurogenic intradural, extraaxial lesions are also discussed.