Mesenchymal Chondrosarcoma of the Cervical Spine

ABSTRACT

Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma is a rare tumor occurring in both bone and soft tissues and exhibits characteristic of a malignant nature. The authors experienced a case of mesenchymal chondrosarcoma occurring in a 23-year-old woman which had invaded the cervical spine. The patient presented with severe both shoulder pain, left upper extremity weakness(Grade IV) and paresthesia at admission. Radiologic studies of the cervial spine showed an aggressive osteolysis of C4 vertebral body, pedicle and lamina with compression of the spinal cord posteriorly on C3, C4, C5 levels. The tumor was totally removed by a combined anterior and posterior approach. The removed vertebral body was replaced with autogenous bone and stabilized by Codman locking plate symtem. The pathological examination showed characteristic of mesenchymal chondrosarcoma.previous symptoms well improved postoperatively. The authors present a case of mesenchymal chondrosarcoma with review of literature.