Chest Wall Chondrosarcoma

Author: Lindsay Hollander, MD; Charles Cha, MD
Institution: Yale University
Date Reviewed: April 2014
Learning Domain: General Thoracic
Learning Objective: Management of Thoracic Chondrosarcoma
PowerPoint File: Chest Wall Chondrosarcoma

 

Discussion Points for Conference

  • Differential Diagnosis
  • Diagnostic Approaches
  • Therapeutic options
    • Special considerations when crossing  two cavities
  • Adjuvant therapy options
  • Follow up care

 

Thoracic Chondrosarcoma

  • Most common primary malignant chest wall tumor
  • Normally arises from costochondrosternal junction
  • Normally presents with an enlarging, painful, anterior chest wall mass
  • CT with contrast is gold standard for diagnosis and operative planning
    • Well-defined, lobulated soft-tissue mass with foci of chondroid matrix calcification

 

Thoracic Chondrosarcoma

  • Successful treatment associated with radical excision with negative margins
  • Tumor resistant to traditional chemoradiation therapy
  • Lifelong surveillance with chest imaging every 6 months for 1st 5 years and annually thereafter
  • Nearly 50% of patients experience local recurrence of disease, despite adequate margins


References

  • Rascoe, P.A., S.I. Reznik, and W.R. Smythe, Chondrosarcoma of the thorax. Sarcoma, 2011. 2011: p. 342879.
  • Waisberg, D.R., et al., Surgically-challenging chondrosarcomas of the chest wall: five-year follow-up at a single institution. Clinics (Sao Paulo), 2011. 66(3): p. 501-3.
  • Marulli, G., et al., Primary chest wall chondrosarcomas: results of surgical resection and analysis of prognostic factors. Eur J Cardiothorac Surg, 2014.