Clinicopathological and histological behavior of mesenchymal chondrosarcoma involving maxilla

Abstract

Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (MC) is a rare variety of chondrosarcoma (CS), which is both clinically unique and histologically distinct compared with conventional CS. Maxillofacial MCs are aggressive, have a tendency for recurrence and significant distant metastasis to lung and bone, and are associated with overall poor prognosis. Histopathologically, it is a biphasic tumor comprising of islands of hyaline cartilage with undifferentiated small round cells. Here, we present an interesting case of MC involving the left half of maxilla along with a brief review of the relevant literature.

Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma of maxilla in paediatric patient

“…MCS is a rare type of CS which was described as a biphasic tumour comprising of spindle cell mesenchyme interspread with areas of chondroid differentiation 3 5–12. The jaw bones are among the favourite site for MCS 7–13. This tumour is malignant in nature and is histogenetically originated from mature cartilaginous tissue 14.…”

“…The peak age incidence is in the second or third decades of life and the most common locations are craniofacial and lower extremity bones, followed by ribs and chest wall 10. The maxilla and mandible are among the common sites of involvement of MCS, followed by the vertebrae, the ribs, the pelvis and the humerus 11. The tumours show a less aggressive course when found in the long bones as compared with the head and neck bones, which the latter had a greater rate of growth, recurrence and metastasis.…”