P.107 Primary clear cell chondrosarcoma of the thoracic spine

Abstract

Background: Clear cell chondrosarcoma (CCC) is a rare, low-grade, subtype of chondrosarcoma. It arises most commonly in the epiphyses of the certain longbones. Spinal involvement is extremely rare, but when present it most frequently involves the thoracic spine. Complete surgical resection is the best curative treatment, with radiation therapy being a consideration for inoperable tumours. Methods: We report a case of a 70-year-old gentleman with CCC of the T7-8 thoracic spine. Gross en-bloc spondylectomy of the T6-8 vertebral bodies with expandable cage reconstruction and T3-11 instrumented fusion were performed. Results: Histological examination revealed a cellular neoplasm composed of well-defined, round to oval cells with abundant clear cytoplasm embedded in a loose cartilaginous matrix with large numbers of admixed osteoclast-type giant cells and scattered bone trabeculae between the lesional cells. The patient experienced significant improvement in neurological function and was discharged from hospital in stable condition seven days after surgery. Conclusions: CCC is a rare variant of chondrosarcoma that rarely involves the osseous spine. In this location, treatment may be challenging given the presence of spinal cord and nerve roots. Given the lack of effective chemotherapy and radiation therapy for CCC, en-bloc resection of CCC involving the spine should be considered.