Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsTypesSymptomsCausesDiagnosisTreatmentPrognosisCopingFrequently Asked Questions
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
Types
Symptoms
Causes
Diagnosis
Treatment
Prognosis
Coping
Frequently Asked Questions
This article discusses the symptoms, causes, and treatment options for people who develop chondrosarcoma.
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Types of Chondrosarcoma
The four main types of chondrosarcoma are:
How Common Is It?Chondrosarcoma is the second most common type of bone cancer. Roughly 20% of all bone cancers are chondrosarcoma.
How Common Is It?
Chondrosarcoma is the second most common type of bone cancer. Roughly 20% of all bone cancers are chondrosarcoma.
Chondrosarcoma Symptoms
Symptoms will depend on the type of chondrosarcoma and the location in which it develops. Still, there are common symptoms that present with all types, such as:
What All Types Have in CommonWhile the types vary in terms of where they develop and how dangerous they are, they all have one symptom in common: pain in the affected area.
What All Types Have in Common
While the types vary in terms of where they develop and how dangerous they are, they all have one symptom in common: pain in the affected area.
Researchers aren’t clear on what causes chondrosarcoma, but they believe that there could be a genetic component at play in people who develop it.
In rare cases, chondrosarcoma can arise fromradiation therapygiven for another type of cancer.
Chondrosarcoma Risk Factors
While the causes are not clearly outlined, there are some potential risk factors associated with the disease. These risk factors are due to other conditions that are often present when chondrosarcomas are diagnosed. They include:
Diagnosing all types of chondrosarcomas typically involves the same techniques. These include:
During the diagnostic process, your healthcare provider will conduct a physical exam, review your health history, and discuss symptoms you are experiencing.
Is It Difficult to Diagnose Chondrosarcoma?In some cases, it can be hard to diagnose chondrosarcoma, especially the type that grows slowly. This is because it will often appear similar to other types of benign growths.
Is It Difficult to Diagnose Chondrosarcoma?
In some cases, it can be hard to diagnose chondrosarcoma, especially the type that grows slowly. This is because it will often appear similar to other types of benign growths.
Treating chondrosarcoma may be difficult because research has shown that this type of cancer does not properly respond tochemotherapyor radiation therapy, both of which are first-linecancer treatments.
Several factors will also need to be taken into account when deciding on treatment, including sex, age, medical history, and the type and severity of your case.
Because the cancer is resistant to the current first-choice cancer treatment options, the best option is the removal of the tumor. This process involves making an incision in the area of the body where it grows and removing all of the affected cartilage or tissue that has cancer cells.
The only time radiotherapy or chemotherapy will be used is if the cancer has spread to other parts of the body, such as the lymph nodes or other organs.
Chondrosarcoma and AmputationIn some cases, the entire bone must be removed, which results in completeamputationof the affected area and the limb that contains the cancer.However, surgeons will always do their best to save the affected limb whenever possible.
Chondrosarcoma and Amputation
In some cases, the entire bone must be removed, which results in completeamputationof the affected area and the limb that contains the cancer.However, surgeons will always do their best to save the affected limb whenever possible.
In cases that are caught early and haven’t metastasized (spread to other parts of the body), the five-year survival rate is as high as 75.2%.
Different factors come into play when predicting the survival rate of people with chondrosarcoma, such as the type, how quickly it spreads, how soon it is diagnosed and treated, and where in the body it is found.
Conventional Chondrosarcoma
Conventional chondrosarcoma has a high five-year survival rate of roughly 90% because of how slowly it spreads. It’s thought that only roughly 1%–6% of all conventional chondrosarcomas spread throughout the body, making the prognosis more positive.
Clear Cell Chondrosarcoma
Clear cell chondrosarcoma can be easily treated. However, it is known for its ability to recur well after it was first treated. Because of this, it can be hard to beat. When it is caught early, the 10-year survival rate is roughly 89%.
Dedifferentiated Chondrosarcoma
Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma has a poor prognosis because it has the ability to spread quickly to other areas of the body.
According to research, the five-year survival rate ranges from roughly 7% to 24%, with the overall five-year survival rate being around 18%.
The location of the tumor plays a role, and those who have one in their chest wall are more likely to survive as opposed to those who have tumors in other areas of the body. Larger tumors, especially those over 8 centimeters, are also associated with a higher mortality.
Mesenchymal Chondrosarcoma
Similar to other types of chondrosarcomas, mesenchymal chondrosarcoma can have a negative prognosis depending on several of the aforementioned factors. Generally, the overall five-year survival rate of this type of chondrosarcoma sits at roughly 51%.
In terms of location, tumors in the axial skeleton, which includes the bone, neck, back, and chest, tend to have the lowest rate of survival at 37%.
Coping with cancer is a difficult process, especially if the prognosis is as low as it is with some types of chondrosarcoma. To cope with a new diagnosis, you can confide in friends or family members and ask for help dealing with the adjustments you’ll have to make because of your disease.
Professional counselors can also be a great help when you have been recently diagnosed. They can assist you in accepting and dealing with your new normal. To make sure you understand your situation and treatment path entirely, ask your healthcare team lots of questions and ask for clarification in areas that you are unsure of.
There are various resources available through theAmerican Cancer Societyand theNational Cancer Instituteto help you cope with your diagnosis, treatment, and survival of the disease.
You can also seek out asupport groupto be among other people who are going through a similar experience.
Summary
Chondrosarcoma is a form of bone cancer that affects cartilage cells. The disease has four different types: conventional, clear cell, dedifferentiated, and mesenchymal chondrosarcoma. While each type presents similarly, there are some differences in where the cancer is located as well as how quickly it spreads throughout the body.
A Word From Verywell
Being diagnosed with cancer can feel as though your whole world has been turned upside down. Acceptance is often a difficult process. Fortunately, there are resources and support groups available to help you through it, and your healthcare team can help you develop the best treatment plan for your specific case.
Frequently Asked QuestionsThe survival rate varies depending on the type and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. Overall, if caught early, the survival rate is as high as 75.2%. In some cases, such as with dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma, it can be as low as 7%.There are several signs and symptoms of chondrosarcoma, although not all of them will be present. In general, the most common signs of this type of cancer are:Feeling a large lump or mass on the boneFeeling as though there is pressure around the mass on the bonePain in the area that tends to gradually worsenSwelling in the affected areaThere is no cure for any type of cancer, but it can be effectively treated. Treatment highly depends on where in the body the cancer has spread to after it develops. In the case of chondrosarcoma, complete removal of the tumor before it has the chance to spread gives someone the best outlook.
The survival rate varies depending on the type and whether it has spread to other parts of the body. Overall, if caught early, the survival rate is as high as 75.2%. In some cases, such as with dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma, it can be as low as 7%.
There are several signs and symptoms of chondrosarcoma, although not all of them will be present. In general, the most common signs of this type of cancer are:Feeling a large lump or mass on the boneFeeling as though there is pressure around the mass on the bonePain in the area that tends to gradually worsenSwelling in the affected area
There are several signs and symptoms of chondrosarcoma, although not all of them will be present. In general, the most common signs of this type of cancer are:
There is no cure for any type of cancer, but it can be effectively treated. Treatment highly depends on where in the body the cancer has spread to after it develops. In the case of chondrosarcoma, complete removal of the tumor before it has the chance to spread gives someone the best outlook.
16 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Fromm J, Klein A, Baur-Melnyk A, et al.Survival and prognostic factors in conventional G1 chondrosarcoma.World J Surg Oncol.2019;17(1):155. doi:10.1186/s12957-019-1695-4Klein A, Tauscher F, Birkenmaier C, et al.Clear cell chondrosarcoma is an underestimated tumor: report of 7 cases and meta-analysis of the literature.J Bone Oncol.2019;19:100267. doi:10.1016/j.jbo.2019.100267Kattepur AK, Jones RL, Gulia A.Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma: current standards of care.Future Oncol.2021;17(35):4983-4991. doi:10.2217/fon-2021-0830Liu C, Xi Y, Li M, et al.Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma: radiological features, prognostic factors and survival statistics in 23 patients.PLoS One.2017;12(3):e0173665. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0173665National Organization for Rare Disorders.Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma.van Praag Veroniek VM, Rueten-Budde AJ, Ho V, Fiocco M, van de Sande MAJ.Incidence, outcomes and prognostic factors during 25 years of treatment of chondrosarcomas.Surg Oncol. 2018;27(3):402-408. doi:10.1016/j.suronc.2018.05.009Cedars-Sinai.Chondrosarcoma.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Chondrosarcoma.Zidane A, Arsalane A, Lahkim M, Lalya I, Ktaibi A, Essadi I.Radiation-induced chondrosarcoma of the scapula after radiotherapy for lung cancer: a case report and review of the literature.J Med Case Rep.2018;12(1):57. doi:10.1186/s13256-018-1606-2Chow WA.Chondrosarcoma: biology, genetics, and epigenetics.F1000Res.2018;7:F1000 Faculty Rev-1826. doi:10.12688/f1000research.15953.1Wang Z, Chen G, Chen X, et al.Predictors of the survival of patients with chondrosarcoma of bone and metastatic disease at diagnosis.J Cancer.2019;10(11):2457-2463. doi:10.7150/jca.30388Leddy LR, Holmes RE.Chondrosarcoma of bone.Cancer Treat Res.2014;162:117-30. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-07323-1_6Flint JH, Conley AP, Rubin LM, et al.Clear cell chondrosarcoma: clinical characteristics and outcomes in 15 patients.Sarcoma.2020:2020;1-6. doi.10.1155/2020/2386191Gomez CD, Anderson MS, Epperly SC, Zuckerman LM.Successful treatment of a dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma of the proximal humerus with a hemicortical articular surface sparing allograft: A case report.Int J Surg Case Rep.2020;72:590-595. doi:10.1016/j.ijscr.2020.06.092Strotman PK, Reif TJ, Kliethermes SA, Sandhu JK, Nystrom LM.Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma: a survival analysis of 159 cases from the SEER database (2001-2011).J Surg Oncol.2017;116(2):252-257. doi:10.1002/jso.24650Schneiderman BA, Kliethermes SA, Nystrom LM.Survival in mesenchymal chondrosarcoma varies based on age and tumor location: a survival analysis of the SEER database.Clin Orthop Relat Res.2017;475(3):799-805. doi:10.1007/s11999-016-4779-2
16 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Fromm J, Klein A, Baur-Melnyk A, et al.Survival and prognostic factors in conventional G1 chondrosarcoma.World J Surg Oncol.2019;17(1):155. doi:10.1186/s12957-019-1695-4Klein A, Tauscher F, Birkenmaier C, et al.Clear cell chondrosarcoma is an underestimated tumor: report of 7 cases and meta-analysis of the literature.J Bone Oncol.2019;19:100267. doi:10.1016/j.jbo.2019.100267Kattepur AK, Jones RL, Gulia A.Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma: current standards of care.Future Oncol.2021;17(35):4983-4991. doi:10.2217/fon-2021-0830Liu C, Xi Y, Li M, et al.Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma: radiological features, prognostic factors and survival statistics in 23 patients.PLoS One.2017;12(3):e0173665. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0173665National Organization for Rare Disorders.Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma.van Praag Veroniek VM, Rueten-Budde AJ, Ho V, Fiocco M, van de Sande MAJ.Incidence, outcomes and prognostic factors during 25 years of treatment of chondrosarcomas.Surg Oncol. 2018;27(3):402-408. doi:10.1016/j.suronc.2018.05.009Cedars-Sinai.Chondrosarcoma.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Chondrosarcoma.Zidane A, Arsalane A, Lahkim M, Lalya I, Ktaibi A, Essadi I.Radiation-induced chondrosarcoma of the scapula after radiotherapy for lung cancer: a case report and review of the literature.J Med Case Rep.2018;12(1):57. doi:10.1186/s13256-018-1606-2Chow WA.Chondrosarcoma: biology, genetics, and epigenetics.F1000Res.2018;7:F1000 Faculty Rev-1826. doi:10.12688/f1000research.15953.1Wang Z, Chen G, Chen X, et al.Predictors of the survival of patients with chondrosarcoma of bone and metastatic disease at diagnosis.J Cancer.2019;10(11):2457-2463. doi:10.7150/jca.30388Leddy LR, Holmes RE.Chondrosarcoma of bone.Cancer Treat Res.2014;162:117-30. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-07323-1_6Flint JH, Conley AP, Rubin LM, et al.Clear cell chondrosarcoma: clinical characteristics and outcomes in 15 patients.Sarcoma.2020:2020;1-6. doi.10.1155/2020/2386191Gomez CD, Anderson MS, Epperly SC, Zuckerman LM.Successful treatment of a dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma of the proximal humerus with a hemicortical articular surface sparing allograft: A case report.Int J Surg Case Rep.2020;72:590-595. doi:10.1016/j.ijscr.2020.06.092Strotman PK, Reif TJ, Kliethermes SA, Sandhu JK, Nystrom LM.Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma: a survival analysis of 159 cases from the SEER database (2001-2011).J Surg Oncol.2017;116(2):252-257. doi:10.1002/jso.24650Schneiderman BA, Kliethermes SA, Nystrom LM.Survival in mesenchymal chondrosarcoma varies based on age and tumor location: a survival analysis of the SEER database.Clin Orthop Relat Res.2017;475(3):799-805. doi:10.1007/s11999-016-4779-2
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Fromm J, Klein A, Baur-Melnyk A, et al.Survival and prognostic factors in conventional G1 chondrosarcoma.World J Surg Oncol.2019;17(1):155. doi:10.1186/s12957-019-1695-4Klein A, Tauscher F, Birkenmaier C, et al.Clear cell chondrosarcoma is an underestimated tumor: report of 7 cases and meta-analysis of the literature.J Bone Oncol.2019;19:100267. doi:10.1016/j.jbo.2019.100267Kattepur AK, Jones RL, Gulia A.Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma: current standards of care.Future Oncol.2021;17(35):4983-4991. doi:10.2217/fon-2021-0830Liu C, Xi Y, Li M, et al.Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma: radiological features, prognostic factors and survival statistics in 23 patients.PLoS One.2017;12(3):e0173665. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0173665National Organization for Rare Disorders.Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma.van Praag Veroniek VM, Rueten-Budde AJ, Ho V, Fiocco M, van de Sande MAJ.Incidence, outcomes and prognostic factors during 25 years of treatment of chondrosarcomas.Surg Oncol. 2018;27(3):402-408. doi:10.1016/j.suronc.2018.05.009Cedars-Sinai.Chondrosarcoma.Johns Hopkins Medicine.Chondrosarcoma.Zidane A, Arsalane A, Lahkim M, Lalya I, Ktaibi A, Essadi I.Radiation-induced chondrosarcoma of the scapula after radiotherapy for lung cancer: a case report and review of the literature.J Med Case Rep.2018;12(1):57. doi:10.1186/s13256-018-1606-2Chow WA.Chondrosarcoma: biology, genetics, and epigenetics.F1000Res.2018;7:F1000 Faculty Rev-1826. doi:10.12688/f1000research.15953.1Wang Z, Chen G, Chen X, et al.Predictors of the survival of patients with chondrosarcoma of bone and metastatic disease at diagnosis.J Cancer.2019;10(11):2457-2463. doi:10.7150/jca.30388Leddy LR, Holmes RE.Chondrosarcoma of bone.Cancer Treat Res.2014;162:117-30. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-07323-1_6Flint JH, Conley AP, Rubin LM, et al.Clear cell chondrosarcoma: clinical characteristics and outcomes in 15 patients.Sarcoma.2020:2020;1-6. doi.10.1155/2020/2386191Gomez CD, Anderson MS, Epperly SC, Zuckerman LM.Successful treatment of a dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma of the proximal humerus with a hemicortical articular surface sparing allograft: A case report.Int J Surg Case Rep.2020;72:590-595. doi:10.1016/j.ijscr.2020.06.092Strotman PK, Reif TJ, Kliethermes SA, Sandhu JK, Nystrom LM.Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma: a survival analysis of 159 cases from the SEER database (2001-2011).J Surg Oncol.2017;116(2):252-257. doi:10.1002/jso.24650Schneiderman BA, Kliethermes SA, Nystrom LM.Survival in mesenchymal chondrosarcoma varies based on age and tumor location: a survival analysis of the SEER database.Clin Orthop Relat Res.2017;475(3):799-805. doi:10.1007/s11999-016-4779-2
Fromm J, Klein A, Baur-Melnyk A, et al.Survival and prognostic factors in conventional G1 chondrosarcoma.World J Surg Oncol.2019;17(1):155. doi:10.1186/s12957-019-1695-4
Klein A, Tauscher F, Birkenmaier C, et al.Clear cell chondrosarcoma is an underestimated tumor: report of 7 cases and meta-analysis of the literature.J Bone Oncol.2019;19:100267. doi:10.1016/j.jbo.2019.100267
Kattepur AK, Jones RL, Gulia A.Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma: current standards of care.Future Oncol.2021;17(35):4983-4991. doi:10.2217/fon-2021-0830
Liu C, Xi Y, Li M, et al.Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma: radiological features, prognostic factors and survival statistics in 23 patients.PLoS One.2017;12(3):e0173665. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0173665
National Organization for Rare Disorders.Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma.
van Praag Veroniek VM, Rueten-Budde AJ, Ho V, Fiocco M, van de Sande MAJ.Incidence, outcomes and prognostic factors during 25 years of treatment of chondrosarcomas.Surg Oncol. 2018;27(3):402-408. doi:10.1016/j.suronc.2018.05.009
Cedars-Sinai.Chondrosarcoma.
Johns Hopkins Medicine.Chondrosarcoma.
Zidane A, Arsalane A, Lahkim M, Lalya I, Ktaibi A, Essadi I.Radiation-induced chondrosarcoma of the scapula after radiotherapy for lung cancer: a case report and review of the literature.J Med Case Rep.2018;12(1):57. doi:10.1186/s13256-018-1606-2
Chow WA.Chondrosarcoma: biology, genetics, and epigenetics.F1000Res.2018;7:F1000 Faculty Rev-1826. doi:10.12688/f1000research.15953.1
Wang Z, Chen G, Chen X, et al.Predictors of the survival of patients with chondrosarcoma of bone and metastatic disease at diagnosis.J Cancer.2019;10(11):2457-2463. doi:10.7150/jca.30388
Leddy LR, Holmes RE.Chondrosarcoma of bone.Cancer Treat Res.2014;162:117-30. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-07323-1_6
Flint JH, Conley AP, Rubin LM, et al.Clear cell chondrosarcoma: clinical characteristics and outcomes in 15 patients.Sarcoma.2020:2020;1-6. doi.10.1155/2020/2386191
Gomez CD, Anderson MS, Epperly SC, Zuckerman LM.Successful treatment of a dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma of the proximal humerus with a hemicortical articular surface sparing allograft: A case report.Int J Surg Case Rep.2020;72:590-595. doi:10.1016/j.ijscr.2020.06.092
Strotman PK, Reif TJ, Kliethermes SA, Sandhu JK, Nystrom LM.Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma: a survival analysis of 159 cases from the SEER database (2001-2011).J Surg Oncol.2017;116(2):252-257. doi:10.1002/jso.24650
Schneiderman BA, Kliethermes SA, Nystrom LM.Survival in mesenchymal chondrosarcoma varies based on age and tumor location: a survival analysis of the SEER database.Clin Orthop Relat Res.2017;475(3):799-805. doi:10.1007/s11999-016-4779-2
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