by EBSCO Medical Review Board
(Cartilage Cancer; Cancer of the Cartilage)

Definition

Chondrosarcoma is a type of cancer. It grows in cartilage cells in the body. Cartilage is connective tissue.

This cancer is most common in the thigh, arm, ribs, or pelvis.

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Causes

Cancer is when cells in the body split without control or order. These cells go on to form a growth or tumor. The term cancer refers to harmful growths. These growths attack nearby tissues. They also spread to other parts of the body. It’s not clear exactly what causes these problems. It’s likely a mix of genes and the environment.

Risk Factors

Chondrosarcoma is more common in adults after aged 20-60 years old. Your chances are also higher for:

  • Enchondroma—harmless bone tumors mainly found in the hands
  • Osteochondroma —too much cartilage or bone is found at the end of a growth plate
  • Ollier disease—causes a group of enchondromas
  • Maffucci syndrome—many endochondromas and other types of tumors

Symptoms

Chondrosarcoma may cause:

  • Large mass on a bone
  • Pressure around the mass
  • Pain that:
    • Worsens at night
    • Doesn’t get better with rest
    • Slowly worsens over time and may last for years

Diagnosis

You will be asked about your symptoms and health history. A physical exam will be done. You may also need:

The tests will find the grade of the cancer. Chondrosarcoma is graded from 1-4. Grade 1 is a local cancer. Grade 4 shows it has spread to other sites in the body.

Treatment

Chondrosarcoma is treated with surgery. The tumor is removed with a border of healthy tissue around it. In some cases, amputation may be needed.

Chemotherapy and radiation therapy may be used if cancer has come back or spread to other sites.

Prevention

There is no way to prevent chondrosarcoma since the cause is unknown.

RESOURCES

American Cancer Society  https://www.cancer.org 

National Cancer Institute  https://www.cancer.gov 

CANADIAN RESOURCES

BC Cancer—Provincial Health Services Authority  http://www.bccancer.bc.ca 

Canadian Cancer Society  https://www.cancer.ca 

References

Chondrosarcoma. Bone Tumor website. Available at: http://bonetumor.org/tumors-cartilage/chondrosarcoma. Accessed January 29, 2021.

Chow WA. Update on chondrosarcomas. Curr. Opin. Oncol. 2007;19(4):371-376.

Lewis VO. What’s new in musculoskeletal oncology. J Bone Joint Surg Am. 2007;89(6):1399-1407.

What is chondrosarcoma? The Liddy Shriver Sarcoma Initiative website. Available at: http://sarcomahelp.org/chondrosarcoma.html. Accessed January 29, 2021.

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