Juxtacortical chondrosarcoma.

The features are described of seven cases of "juxtacortical" chondrosarcoma, the term introduced by Jaffe for a rare but distinct entity and now accepted in the World Health Organisation classification as preferable to the term "periosteal" chondrosarcoma. In all cases the lesion involved the shaft of a long bone, most often the femur, and in two cases two different long bones were affected. Six of the seven patients were male and all were in the second decade. The characteristic appearance was that of a small tumour adjacent to the cortex with areas of spotty calcification often accompanied by radiating bone spicules perpendicular to the bone shaft and a typical Codman's triangle. Histologically all the tumours showed a cartilaginous lobular pattern, well limited on the surface and seldom infiltrating the cortex; areas of spotty calcification and enchondral ossification were often present but tumour osteoid and bone were conspicuously absent. Despite the ominous histological aspect, the prognosis proved to be relatively favourable compared with the usual central chondrosarcoma of a similar grade of malignancy.     

Chondroma of the cervical spine. Case report

The authors report a case of cervical chondroma presenting with a syndrome of spinal cord compression in a 76-year-old woman. Total surgical removal of the lesion was followed by partial neurological recovery. Chondromas of the vertebral column are rarely reported in the literature.     

Chondroma of the bronchus

A case of endobronchial chondroma is described and the reports of the three other cases previously published are noted.     

Chondroma of the cervical spinal canal. Case report.

The authors report a case of cervical spinal canal chondroma in a 28 year-old man. The tumor was removed completely. Only about 10 similar cases are reported up to now.     

Segmental resection for chondrosarcoma.

Specific anatomical and pathological criteria for resectability of so-called central chondrosarcoma of the extremities were set forth and a method of treatment based on autoclaving the segment and surrounding it with massive amounts of fresh autogenous cancellous bone was used in eight patients. Follow-up ranged from 3.2 to 13.5 years. The advantages of the method are: ease of procurement of bone graft, absence of storage and measurement problems, and lack of need for rigid immobilization. No secondary procedures were required because of fracture, resorption, or infection.     

Mediastinal chondrosarcoma. Case report

A 34-year-old man and a 71-year-old woman underwent radical removal of mediastinally sited chondrosarcoma, presumably originating in the periosteum of the vertebral body. The man (with mesenchymal chondrosarcoma) died of remote metastasis 6 years postoperatively. The woman (poorly differentiated chondrosarcoma, grade 2-3) is still alive 2 years after the operation.     

Dural mesenchymal chondrosarcoma. Case report

A dural mesenchymal chondrosarcoma is reported in a 19-year-old man. This tumor had features of angioblastic meningioma (meningeal hemangiopericytoma), by light microscopy. However, ultrastructurally this tumor could be distinguished from angioblastic meningioma, and its similarity to extracranial mesenchymal chondrosarcoma was confirmed.