Chondrosarcomas are a spectrum of tumors with variable clinical behavior, histologically classified as grades I, II, and III.1 Maximal surgical resection with adjuvant radiation is the gold standard for grade III malignant tumors.2,3 Lower-grade skull base chondrosarcomas have a slow progressive local growth pattern with an overall benign profile.1,4 In these grade I and II tumors, radical resection can be sufficient in achieving long-term control of the disease without the need for adjuvant therapy, thus avoiding the long-term side effects of irradiation in relatively young patients.4,5 As a slow-growing tumor, skull base chondrosarcoma might reach a giant size with progressive neurological deficits prior to diagnosis. In these cases, to achieve maximal resection, skull base approaches tailored to the patient's anatomy are essential.4,6 Cranial approach is frequently needed due to the calcified nature of part of the tumor that is not amenable to resection through the endonasal approach. The endoscope is extremely helpful combined with the microscopic resection. We demonstrate these techniques through in the surgery of a 39-yr-old female who presented with progressive neurological deficits from a giant ossified chondrosarcoma and underwent a combined petrosal approach for the resection of her tumor. A postoperative small enhancement remained stable on the 4-yr follow-up exam. The pathology confirmed grade II chondrosarcoma, with the patient recovering from her neurological deficit except the third nerve. The patient consented to the surgery and publication of images. Image at 1:36 reprinted with permission from Al-Mefty O, Operative Atlas of Meningiomas. Vol 1, ©LWW, 1998.
Keywords: Chondrosarcoma; Clivus; Combined petrosal approach; Cranial nerves; Gross total resection; Skull base.
© Congress of Neurological Surgeons 2021.