The imaging of cartilaginous bone tumours. II. Chondrosarcoma

Skeletal Radiol. 2013 May;42(5):611-26. doi: 10.1007/s00256-012-1521-3. Epub 2012 Oct 4.

Abstract

Chondrosarcoma is the third most common primary malignant bone tumour. There are various histological subtypes of chondrosarcomas, of which conventional intramedullary chondrosarcoma is by far the most common. Rarer sub-types include clear cell chondrosarcoma, myxoid chondrosarcoma, mesenchymal chondrosarcoma and dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma. Chondrosarcoma is also classified into central, peripheral and periosteal, dependent upon the lesion site, and into primary chondrosarcoma if the lesion arises de novo and secondary chondrosarcoma if the tumour arises in a pre-existing lesion. The various subtypes of chondrosarcoma have characteristic imaging features that may aid diagnosis and may guide biopsy, therefore potentially preventing misdiagnosis. The aim of this article is to provide an overview of the pertinent clinical and imaging findings of the different forms of chondrosarcoma.

Publication types

  • Review

MeSH terms

  • Bone Neoplasms / diagnosis*
  • Bone Neoplasms / pathology
  • Chondrosarcoma / diagnosis*
  • Chondrosarcoma / pathology
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Radiography
  • Tomography, X-Ray Computed