gms | German Medical Science

Introduction: Chondrosarcoma are malignant tumours producing chondroid (atypical cartilage tissue) but in distinction to osteosarcoma not producing osteoid. Their origin is more commonly bone than cartilage. The main locations are pelvis, femur, humerus and ribs. Head and neck are rarely involved, in only about ten percent of patients, localized in the skull base, maxilla and larynx. Only 0.1 percent of all head and neck malignancies are chondrosarcomas. The distribution in the neck is mainly the larynx with involvement ot the thyroid cartilage in 70% and the cricoid cartilage in 20%. Chondrosarcomas of the hyoid bone are extremely rare with only 9 published cases so far. The case presented here is to our knowledge the third patient with described periostal growth.

Case report: A 30yr old man presented with histologically diagnosed low-grade chondrosarcoma of the neck on the left side T1 N0 M0. MRI showed a 4x5x4cm measuring, lobulated, poorly defined mass that was dislocating the hypopharynx to the right. The tumour could be excised in total with resection of the left half of the hyoid bone. The pharynx could be left unharmed. It was the first manifestation in this patient.

Conclusion: Complete resection is of utmost importance, as these tumours are almost refractory to radio- and chemotherapy. Despite complete excision recurrence is frequent. Recurrence is described up to ten years after resection. Oncologic follow up must therefore focus on late pulmonary metastases.