Medical imaging and analysis of dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma using CT, MRI and ultrasound

Abstract

Chondrosarcoma (CS) is a type of bone cancer that arises from the malignant transformation of chondrocytes and spreads metastatically to the surrounding bone tissue. CSs tend to grow and spread slowly, dedifferentiating into high-grade tumours; however, the cancer may grow rapidly too. What causes chondrosarcoma is not known, though it may arise from a benign tumour or bone conditions. Typically, CS tumours originate from the bones of the axial skeleton, but they may also occur in other parts of the body. CS patients usually experience aching pain around the tumour, especially at night or during physical activity, and it slowly deteriorates. Medical imaging tests play an important role in the diagnosis of CS; nevertheless, a tissue biopsy is required to confirm its diagnosis. The role of medical imaging is also vital in guiding and monitoring treatments. Surgical resection of the tumour is commonly the primary treatment for most types of CS due to its resistance to chemotherapy and radiation therapy. This work presents the case of a deceased middle-aged male subject with dedifferentiated CS of the right chest wall, including analysis of medical images involving both ionising (computed tomography) and non-ionising techniques (ultrasound and magnetic resonance imaging), in addition to treatments the subject received, along with their outcomes. Five generations of the subject’s family were investigated in detail and the subject was found the only cancer case in his family. Furthermore, the subject did not benefit from any treatments he underwent, and he died within two years from the diagnosis.