Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma of the cervical spine: a case report

World J Surg Oncol. 2013 Feb 2:11:32. doi: 10.1186/1477-7819-11-32.

Abstract

Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma (DDCS) is a rare and aggressive bone tumor with poor prognosis. Primary DDCS of the mobile spine is extremely rare, particularly in the cervical spine. We herein describe a first case of cervical DDCS in an 81-year-old male presenting with a slowly growing mass. Radiographs showed an expansion of the cortical contour of the C2 lamina and a soft tissue mass with punctate calcification. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a lobulated lesion expanding over the entire lamina and pedicles of C2 with the tumor protuberant to the adjacent soft tissue. A complete tumor resection was performed. Histologically, the majority of the tumor was a low-grade chondrosarcoma component. However, atypical spindle cells that had proliferated in a fascicular pattern with a collagenous stroma, mimicking fibrosarcoma, were focally observed without a transitional zone, and these features confirmed that the tumor was DDCS.

Publication types

  • Case Reports
  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Aged, 80 and over
  • Bone Neoplasms / pathology*
  • Bone Neoplasms / surgery
  • Cervical Vertebrae / pathology*
  • Cervical Vertebrae / surgery
  • Chondrosarcoma / pathology*
  • Chondrosarcoma / surgery
  • Fibrosarcoma / pathology*
  • Fibrosarcoma / surgery
  • Humans
  • Magnetic Resonance Imaging
  • Male
  • Neoplasm Grading
  • Prognosis
  • Spinal Diseases / pathology*
  • Spinal Diseases / surgery