Staging work up in chondrosarcoma: Is a bone scan warranted for the metastatic workup of chondrosarcoma?

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e23508 Background: To assess the value of a bone scan in the metastatic workup of a patient diagnosed with chondrosarcoma of bone. Methods: Retrospective analysis. 480 patients of extremity chondrosarcomas were identified with the help of nuclear imaging records and pathology department data base over a period of 12 years. Their clinical, radiological and histopathological details were retrieved from case files and electronic medical records. All cases were staged with a CT scan of thorax and bone scan or a whole body PET-CT. All reported and suspicious cases of metastasis were reviewed again by an experienced radiologist for this study. 53 patients had to be excluded from the study due to incomplete staging modalities. Results: 427 patients were available for final evaluation. Grade was not available for 3 patients. No grade I chondrosarcoma (53) had evidence of metastasis. In the remaining high grade chondrosarcomas (374), isolated lung metastasis was seen in 9% (35 cases) (grade II-31, grade III-4), combined lung and bone metastasis was seen in 0.5% (2 cases) (all grade II) and isolated bone metastasis was seen in 1 % (4 cases) (all grade II). Conclusions: The present study shows that the incidence of bony metastasis in extremity chondrosarcomas is extremely low. A non-contrast CT thorax would be adequate for staging in conventional chondrosarcomas. In light of the present results we feel bone scan may be omitted from the staging work up of conventional skeletal chondrosarcomas. It may be reserved for only symptomatic patients.