REVIEW Imaging of chondrosarcomas

Chondrosarcoma is the commonest primary sarcoma of bone in adults, with a male predominance. Patients are usually between 30 and 70 years old. Clinical symptoms are pain and tenderness with or without a mass, the average duration of symptoms being 1–2 years, but growth may be very slow, especially for pelvic tumours [1]. Chondrosarcomas characteristically produce coalescent cartilage lobules of various size. The center often becomes necrotic or cystic [1]. Skeletal distribution The commonest sites are the pelvic bones, the femur and humerus. Other sites are the trunk, the skull and facial bones. Involvement of the hands and feet is rare. Peculiar forms develop on laryngeal cartilage, base of the skull, or in soft tissue. Chondrosarcomas may occur on pre-existing lesions. Central chondrosarcoma predominates in long bones and peripheral tumours in the pelvis and vertebrae. Imagin