Chondrosarcoma is one of the most common bone sarcomas of adulthood, characterized by the production of tumor cartilage. Though commonest in the long bones they also occur in flat bones such as the pelvis, rib, and scapula. Secondary chondrosarcomas can arise in preexisting benign lesions such as osteochondroma and enchondroma. Rarer subtypes of chondrosarcoma include mesenchymal chondrosarcoma and clear cell chondrosarcoma. Conventional chondrosarcomas may rarely “dedifferentiate” into a very high grade tumor with a dismal prognosis, so called dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma.

Biopsy

- Biopsy diagnosis is mandatory

- Biopsy to be done only after all local imaging is completed

- In most cases a core needle biopsy is adequate (it may need to be image guided depending on anatomical location of the lesion)

Staging

- Local X-Ray

- MRI

- CT Scan Chest +/- Bone Scan