Mesenchymal Chondrosarcoma : Imaging

Comments:
Imaging Studies: The radiographic features of mesenchymal chondrosarcoma resemble those of conventional chondrosarcoma. Imaging studies show a poorly-demarcated, lytic destructive process with speckled calcifications. The tumor fills up the medullary cavity causing expansion of the bone and erodes through the cortex creating a soft tissue mass (about 50% of cases). Bone destruction may lead to pathologic fracture as seen in this case (see gross specimen in the next image). Soft tissue-based tumors tend to be sharply circumscribed and show stippled calcifications.

CT scans show a poorly-defined, destructive process with stippled calcifications. With MRI, it shows high signal intensity on T2-weighted images. On technetium bone scan, there is avid uptake.

Image courtesy of: Raul Perret, MD, MSc; used with permission.