The case of a 55-year-old man with chondrosarcoma to the cervical spine is described. Two years previously the patient had undergone a right hip replacement for synovial chondromatosis. Re-evaluation of the biopsy specimen from the right hip taken at the time of the initial operation showed areas of chondrosarcoma arising in the background of synovial chondromatosis. The unusual presentation of this rare entity is discussed.