[Falcine chondrosarcoma (case report and literature review)]

Chondrosarcoma is a rare malignancy composed of transformed cells of cartilage. This cancer is characterized by slow growth. Almost 75% of intracranial chondrosarcomas are observed on the skull base and grow from bone synchondrosis. Other rarer localizations of tumor are cerebral falx, tentorium cerebelli, vascular plexuses of the ventricles, fourth ventricle, convexital surface of the brain, etc. In this manuscript, we report treatment of patient with falcine chondrosarcoma.

Paediatric High-Grade Intracranial Mesenchymal Chondrosarcoma: A Case Report with 6 Years of Follow-Up without Recurrence

INTRODUCTION

Intracranial mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (MSC) is an extremely rare tumour that constitutes only 0.015% of all central nervous system tumours. These tumours usually originate from skull base synchondrosis and are often observed in young adults during their second and third decades of life. Despite the absence of a consensus regarding adjuvant radiotherapy, radical excision remains crucial for the prognosis of MSC.

CASE PRESENTATION

We herein present the case of a young male patient with intracranial MSC, a malignant tumour, for which no consensus regarding its treatment has yet been established. The patient underwent radical excision followed by adjuvant radiotherapy. Histological analysis revealed a poorly differentiated tumour containing necrotic areas. Notably, no signs of recurrence had been observed after 6 years.

CONCLUSION

The absence of recurrence over a long follow-up duration suggests the importance of radical excision and adjuvant radiotherapy.

Unique Case Report of a Meningeal Sarcoma Arising during Ongoing Treatment for Progressing Intraparenchymal Glioma

Radiation-induced sarcomas in the brain are extremely rare, usually occur with an average latency of 9 years, and are associated with poor outcomes. Latency periods shorter than 1 year may indicate a genetic predisposition such as Li-Fraumeni syndrome. A 34-year-old man underwent initial tumor resection and radiation therapy for a World Health Organization (WHO) Grade II Astrocytoma. Within 6 months, the tumor recurred as WHO Grade III and was treated with temozolomide and then bevacizumab. Despite the patient's apparent improving condition, MRI revealed new dural-based lesions 10 months after radiation therapy and identified as high-grade sarcoma. The patient resumed bevacizumab, began NovoTTF treatment for progressing glioma, and ifosfamide/doxorubicin for the sarcoma. Genetic testing revealed no pathogenic mutation in the TP53 gene. Ultimately, treatment was unsuccessful and the patient succumbed to glioma and sarcoma within 2 years of initial diagnosis. This case was unique due to the rapidly progressing glioma and sudden appearance of a high-grade sarcoma. It is unusual to have two separate intracranial primary cancers with each requiring a different chemotherapy regimen. We discuss the difficulty of simultaneously treating with separate chemotherapy regimens. It remains unclear whether the sarcoma was induced by the radiation treatment or a genetic predisposition.

Intracranial Extraskeletal Mesenchymal Chondrosarcoma: Case Report and Review of the Literature of Reported Cases in Adults and Children

BACKGROUND

Intracranial extraskeletal mesenchymal chondrosarcoma is a rare, malignant variant of chondrosarcoma that is characterized by undifferentiated mesenchymal cells interspersed with pockets of mature hyaline cartilage.

CASE DESCRIPTION

In this study, we report a 23-year-old female patient who underwent multiple craniotomies for tumor resection, as well as adjuvant radiotherapy and chemotherapy. We review the literature for reported cases and discuss the histopathologic features, radiologic findings, therapeutic approaches, and outcomes associated with this rare tumor.

CONCLUSIONS

Intracranial extra-skeletal mesenchymal chondrosarcomas are very aggressive tumors, and their management should emphasize attempting gross total resection followed by adjuvant treatment modalities, including radiation therapy and/or chemotherapy.

Radiologic Features of Primary Intracranial Myxomas from the Skull Base: 14 Case Reports and Literature Review

BACKGROUND

Primary intracranial myxomas (PIMs) are extremely rare benign tumors that arise from the skull base. The aim of this study was to characterize the radiologic manifestation of PIMs in a series of 14 cases.

METHODS

We reviewed the imaging and clinical data of 14 patients with pathologically proven PIMs. Assessed features of lesions include shape, margin, bony destruction, attenuation and/or signal intensity, and pattern of enhancement.

RESULTS

Extremely high-density foci indicating calcification or bony debris within the tumors were observed in 5 cases on computed tomography images. On magnetic resonance images, the tumors demonstrated heterogeneous hypointensity on T1-weighted images (T1WI) and hyperintensity on T2-weighted images (T2WI). A honeycomb pattern on enhanced T1WIs was observed in 63.6% (7/11) of the cases.

CONCLUSIONS

Radiologic findings of PIMs include calcified foci or bone debris on computed tomography, heterogeneous hypointensity on T1WI and predominantly hyperintensity on T2WI, and honeycomb appearance on enhanced T1WI.

Multiple Surgical Treatments for Repeated Recurrence of Skull Base Mesenchymal Chondrosarcoma

We report a case of a young male who received multiple surgical treatments for repeated recurrence of skull base mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (MC). When the patient was 18 years old, we subtotally removed the skull base MC and he was treated with stereotactic radiosurgery for remnant tumors in the left cavernous sinus. After 30 months, we removed residual tumors that had regrown partially, via combined endonasal endoscopic and orbitozygomatic approaches. Over the next 65 months, the patient refused radical resection, and received six salvage surgeries, two stereotactic radiotherapies, and five stereotactic radiosurgeries for repeated recurrence. At 95 months after initial surgery, the tumors had extended to the skull base and nasal cavities. As a result, the left eye had been blinded and right visual acuity was deteriorated. We performed left anterior-middle cranial base resection, removal of nasal and intradural tumors, high flow bypass, en-bloc resection of the left cavernous sinus and clivus, and reconstruction using an abdominal flap. Even though the main tumors were removed with safety margins, tumors around the right optic nerve were removed by piecemeal to preserve right eye function. Six months after the radical resection, tumors in the right orbital apex recurred because we had been unable to remove the tumor with adequate safety margins. Skull base MC has a high tendency to recur locally, so these tumors should be radically removed with safety margins as early as possible to prevent recurrence.

Distinguishing Falcine Chondrosarcomas from Their Mimics and Management

BACKGROUND

Primary intracranial chondrosarcoma is an extremely rare malignant tumor of the central nervous system, which accounts for <0.16% of all primary intracranial tumors. This rare tumor has a high associated morbidity from the tumor itself as well as from treatment modalities.

CASE DESCRIPTION

A 33-year-old man presented with a diffuse headache of 3 months' duration. He was admitted to our department with weakness in the right extremities that had persisted for more than a month. Findings of the neurologic examination revealed right hemiparesis. Cranial magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a well-demarcated, parasagittal left frontal mass, which compressed to the lateral ventricle. It was hypointense on T1-weighted and hyperintense on T2-weighted images without creating edema in the surrounding tissue. A left frontoparietal craniotomy with complete excision of the mass was performed. The postoperative period was uneventful, and patient was discharged on the fourth postoperative day without any neurologic deficit. Histopathology showed a morphology that was in favor of chondrosarcoma grade 1.

CONCLUSIONS

Dural chondrosarcoma is a possible entity in the differential diagnosis of a presumed meningioma, particularly when atypical features are present. We report a grade 1 intracranial chondrosarcoma of the classical subtype without any neurologic problems after complete surgical excision. The patient did not receive any adjuvant therapy and at 26 months' follow-up showed no recurrence.

Intraspinal Mesenchymal Chondrosarcoma: Report of a Pediatric Case and Literature Review

Purpose

Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (MCS) is an aggressive variant of chondrosarcoma and is a rare tumor, particularly within the pediatric population. Commonly, MCS originates in the bone, but it can also arise in extraskeletal sites, such as the brain and the intraspinal area. Due to the rarity of this tumor, there are no guidelines for its optimal treatment.

Methods

We report a case of intradural extra medullary MCS, located at the T11–T12 level, in a 14-year-old male. The tumor was documented by magnetic resonance imaging and treated with gross total resection (GTR) without adjuvant treatment. We further reviewed the relevant pediatric literature and discussed the management and outcome of intracranial and intraspinal MCS.

Results

The patient's follow-up showed no evidence of disease 2 years from diagnosis. A total of 51 cases of intracranial and intraspinal MCS have been reported (24 intraspinal and 27 intracranial). Recurrence has been described in only 4 patients with intraspinal MSC, and among them 3 received adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy. GTR seems to reduce the risk of recurrence and, due to a higher cancer-mortality rate for these patients, adjuvant chemotherapy and radiotherapy are recommended in case aggressive surgery is not possible.

Conclusions

According to our single experience, we would suggest that adjuvant therapy might be unnecessary in cases where a localized MCS undergoes GTR. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy should be recommended when GTR cannot be obtained. Further studies are needed to investigate a standard treatment approach for this rare tumor.

Classical intracranial chondrosarcoma: A case report

Intracranial chondrosarcoma is a rare malignant cartilage-forming tumor, with only a small number of cases in the posterior cranial fossa reported previously. The present study reports the case of a 40-year-old male patient who was admitted to Tianjin Huanhu Hospital with a progressive headache and dizziness that had lasted for 2 years. Physical and neurological examinations were normal. Radiography of the skull identified an opaque lesion in the left frontal region of the brain. Cranial computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed a lesion with calcification and homogenous contrast enhancement in the left frontal region. Subsequently, the patient underwent bicoronal craniotomy and gross total resection of the tumor. Pathological examination confirmed the diagnosis of classical intracranial chondrosarcoma. The patient was discharged 10 days after surgery, with no neurological deficit. One month after initial discharge, the patient underwent γ-knife treatment. A follow-up examination 9 months after surgery revealed that the patient was still alive and had returned to work, with no obvious symptoms or evidence of recurrence.

Meningeal tumors of childhood and infancy. An update and literature review

Meningeal derived tumors of the first 2 decades of life are often diagnostically challenging due to the wide morphologic spectrum encountered and the rarity of most individual entities. The 2 most common patterns include the dural/leptomeningeal-based mass and neoplastic meningitis. Both primary and secondary meningeal presentations may occur, either early or late in the course of various meningothelial, mesenchymal, embryonal, glial, hematopoietic, histiocytic, melanocytic, and inflammatory tumors. As in other areas of pediatric pathology, there are significant differences between this patient cohort and adults, differences which will be emphasized in this review.

Intra-parenchymal mesenchymal chondrosarcoma of the cerebellum: case report and review of the literature

A 44-year-old male presented with a 3-week history of clumsiness and numbness of the left hemibody. CT scan and MRI revealed a 2 cm mass in the right hemisphere of the cerebellum. The patient underwent a sub-occipital craniotomy with gross total resection of the intra-parenchymal lesion. On pathology, the lesion was found to be compatible with a mesenchymal chondrosarcoma. The patient received adjuvant radiation treatment and remains free of disease 60 months after completion of treatment. Mesenchymal chondrosarcomas are neoplasms that rarely arise intra-cranially. Thirty cases have been found in the literature. Our case resembles more closely six of these cases because the tumour had no dural attachment. We describe our case in more detail and review similar cases found in the English literature.

Cytopathology of mesenchymal chondrosarcomas: a report and comparison of four patients

BACKGROUND

Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (MC) is an infrequent neoplasm, representing approximately 1% of all chondrosarcomas. Cytologic descriptions of MCs have been confined to rare case reports. In the current report, the authors describe their experience with the cytologic features of four MCs: two primary tumors and two metastatic lesions.

METHODS

Four patients were diagnosed with MC at the authors' institution from 1994 to 2002. Three of four patients underwent fine-needle aspiration (FNA) biopsy as part of their diagnosis; in the fourth patient, imprint cytology was performed. Each tumor also received histologic confirmation.

RESULTS

The patients studied included three females and one male. In three patients, the tumor presented initially as a soft tissue mass; whereas, in the remaining patient, the MC presented in the tibia. FNA results demonstrated small, oval-to-spindled cells with high nuclear-to-cytoplasmic ratios. Cells occurred singly and in clumps in a background of basophilic extracellular matrix. Histologic examination of each lesion demonstrated biphasic tumors, including focal areas of relatively mature cartilage formation as well as a small cell population.

CONCLUSIONS

MC is a rare soft tissue tumor that occurs frequently in extraskeletal locations. FNA of these tumors can be diagnostic if the tumor is sampled appropriately and of critical features, such as the background extracellular matrix, are recognized. Given the propensity of these tumors to metastasize and the poor prognosis of patients with MC, early identification by FNA biopsy may allow earlier, more aggressive interventions.

Primary epithelioid sarcoma of the dura: case report

OBJECTIVE AND IMPORTANCE

Epithelioid sarcomas are rare mesenchymal neoplasms that occur most often in the extremities of young adults. Despite isolated reports of epithelioid sarcomas arising in the head and neck region, these lesions have not been described previously, to our knowledge, in the central nervous system.

CLINICAL PRESENTATION

We present the case of an 18-year-old woman with a unique dural sarcoma that arose in the right frontotemporal region. As visualized on magnetic resonance imaging studies, the 4.5-cm tumor focally traversed the cranium to penetrate the galea, the temporal muscle, and subcutaneous tissue. No brain invasion was noted.

INTERVENTION

Despite gross total removal and postoperative radiotherapy (59 Gy), a large recurrence was noted 5 months after surgery. Histologically, the partly necrotic tumor consisted of epithelioid and spindle cells showing widespread vimentin and variable cytokeratin as well as epithelial membrane antigen immunoreactivity. Ultrastructurally, the cohesive cells featured various organelles, intermediate filaments, junctions, and filopodia-containing intercellular spaces.

CONCLUSION

With the inclusion of epithelioid sarcoma, the spectrum of central nervous system sarcomas continues to expand.

Parafalcine chondrosarcoma: an unusual localization for a classical variant. Case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Intracranial chondroid tumors are infrequently seen in neurosurgical practice. These tumors usually arise from cartilaginous synchondroses at the base of the skull, but occasionally from the pluripotential mesenchymal cells of the meninges. We present here a case of classic low-grade giant chondrosarcoma of the falx cerebri. This is only the second case of this variant reported in this location, and we summarize the diagnostic criteria with a brief review of literature.

CASE REPORT

A 56-year-old female patient was admitted to the hospital with a history of progressive right-sided weakness occurring in the last 8 months and a recent grand mal seizure. Radiological evaluation demonstrated a large extra-axial mass in the left parafalcine area, suggesting a possible meningioma. An anterior interhemispheric approach enabled gross total removal of the tumor and a histologic diagnosis of a low-grade classic chondrosarcoma was made. The patient is currently stable and has shown no evidence of recurrence in more than 3 years without any adjuvant treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Intracranial cartilaginous tumors include classical, mesenchymal and myxoid chondrosarcomas in addition to benign chondromas. Parafalcine localization should be considered for all these variants as well as for meningiomas, hemangiopericytomas, solitary fibrous tumors, and meningeal metastatic carcinomas. Detailed radiological evaluation, light microscopic and ultrastructural analyses, and immunocytochemistry are essential for correct diagnosis. In contrast to mesenchymal and myxoid types, the prognosis of classic variants is usually good and does not require adjuvant treatment modalities if a radical resection of the tumor can be obtained. Increased documentation of clinical, radiological, and histologic findings as well as response to treatment modalities will provide a better understanding of the pathophysiology of these rare tumors, and highlight the optimum treatment strategies