Chondrosarcoma
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| Chondrosarcoma Classification and external resources |
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| ICD-9 | 170.9 |
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| ICD-O: | 9220/3-9240/3 |
A chondrosarcoma is a type of cancer of the bone. Chondrosarcoma is a cartilage-based tumor and is in a category of cancers called sarcomas. About 25% of primary bone cancers (meaning those which start in the bone) are chondrosarcomas. This disease can affect people or animals of any age, although it is more common among older people than among children.[1]
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[edit] Classification
The aggressiveness of chondrosarcoma is graded based upon how fast it grows and its likelihood to metastasize or spread to other parts of the body. Grade 1 is a low grade (slow growing) cancer. Grades 2 and 3 are higher grades (fast growing) cancers. Depending on the grading system used by the medical facility, it's also possible to have grade 4 which would be even more aggressive than lower grade tumors, and already metastasized.
The most common bones for chondrosarcoma to grow are the pelvic and shoulder bones along with the superior regions of the arms and legs. [2] But chondrosarcoma can also be found in any bones of the body, even in the base of the skull.
[edit] Diagnosis
Like all other bone tumors and disease processes, diagnosis is made primarily by imaging. There are no blood tests to determine a diagnosis of chondrosarcoma. The most characteristic imaging findings are on CT, where detection of a chondroid matrix is present. These metadiaphyseal lesions involves the flat bones, such as the pelvis, but can occur anywhere.
Nearly all chondrosarcoma patients appear to be in good health. Since it is not like other cancers, it doesn't affect the whole system. Many patients are not aware that there is a tumor growing inside them until there is a noticeable lump or pain. Sometimes a patient has no symptoms and no awareness of any lump and perhaps, by having a test for something else gets diagnosed accidentally. Sometimes an unexpected fracture will be the first indication of a bone tumor.[3]
[edit] Causes
The cause is unknown. Patients may have a history of enchondroma or osteochondroma.
[edit] Treatment
Treatment depends on the location of the disease and the aggressiveness of the tumors [4]. Because chondrosarcomas are rare, they are treated at specialist hospitals with Sarcoma Centers.
Surgery is the main form of treatment for chondrosarcoma. Musculoskeletal tumor specialists or orthopedic oncologists are usually chosen to treat chondrosarcoma, unless it is located in the skull, spine, or chest cavity, in which case, a neurosurgeon or thoracic surgeon experienced with sarcomas is chosen. Often, a limb-sparing operation can be performed [5], however in some cases amputation is unavoidable. Amputation of the arm, leg, jaw, or half of the pelvis (called a hemipelvectomy) may be necessary in some cases.
Chemotherapy or traditional radiotherapy are not very effective for most chondrosarcomas, although proton therapy is showing promise with local tumor control at over 80% [6].
Complete surgical ablation is the most effective treatment, but sometimes this is difficult. Proton therapy Radiation can be useful in awkward locations to make surgery more effective.
[edit] Prognosis
Prognosis depends on how early the cancer is discovered and treated. For the least aggressive grade, about 90% of patients survive more than five years after diagnosis.[7] For the most aggressive grade, more than a quarter of patients live more than five years.
Tumors may recur in the future. Follow up scans are extremely important for chondrosarcoma to make sure there has been no recurrence or metastasis, which usually occurs in the lungs.
[edit] Epidemiology
Chondrosarcomas are more common in people over the age of 40. Chondrosarcoma is considered to be a rare form of bone cancer. Even more rare are chondrosarcoma located in the skull base, spine, rib cage, or larynx.
Chondrosarcoma's reprsent the third most common primary malignant bone tumor and encompass 9-13% of all primary bone tumors.
[edit] References
[edit] External links
- Chondrosarcoma of Bone Article written for patients
- CancerBACUP Chondrosarcoma Info Page
- Bone Tumor.org Fact Page on Chondrosarcoma
- Sarcoma is a Dangerous Cancer from the Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative
- What is Sarcoma from the Sarcoma Alliance
- Sarcoma facts page
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