Primary non-skeletal intracranial cartilaginous neoplasms: report of a chondroma and a mesenchymal chondrosarcoma

The clinical and pathological features of two rare, primary non-skeletal intracranial cartilaginous tumours, a chondroma and a mesenchymal chondrosarcoma, are presented. The literature with respect to clinical, pathological, and possible pathogenetic features is reviewed. The chondroma was successfully resected and the patient has had no recurrence since the operation in 1956. The clinical course of the mesenchymal chondrosarcoma was characterized by rapidly recurring tumour, slowed somewhat by cobalt therapy and frequent surgical interventions. Death occurred some 16 months after the initial resection. There were no metastases.