X-ray diagnosis of extraskeletal (soft tissue) chondrosarcoma

Abstract

Eight cases of surgically and pathologically verified extraskeletal (soft tissue) chondrosarcoma were analyzed with regard to clinical and X-ray features. The cardinal clinical aspects of this series are: presence of a local soft tissue mass; gradual enlargement of the mass accompanied by increasing pain. The X-ray signs were summarized as follows: formation of a soft tissue mass; various forms of calcifications concentrated in the central area of the tumor; in some instances, presence of a saucer-like defect on the cortical surface of neighbouring bone and periosteal proliferation with mound-like new bone on both sides as well as bending deformity of the affected bone. The incidence and sites of predilection, the main X-ray findings, radiological diagnosis and differential diagnosis of the tumor were discussed. The Roentgen features of synovial chondrosarcoma of the knee joint were especially analyzed.