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Illustration of Chondrosarcoma
Experienced physicians at Mayo Clinic have treated hundreds of patients with chondrosarcoma over the years. On average, more than 25 new patients receive care at Mayo each year. A chondrosarcoma patient receives treatment from a multidisciplinary team that includes orthopedic oncologists (orthopedic surgeons specialize in bone and soft tissue tumors), plastic surgeons, vascular surgeons, rehabilitation experts, medical and radiation oncologists, and a diverse group of allied health professionals.
X-rays and other imaging techniques such as a computed tomography (CT) or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) are used to identify the tumor. To diagnose chondrosarcoma, the doctor removes a small sample of the suspected tumor in a procedure known as a biopsy. A pathologist looks at the sample under a microscope to determine whether the tissue contains malignant cells. A chest CT and a bone scan help the physician evaluate the lungs and other areas where the cancer may have spread (metastasized).
Specialists at Mayo Clinic plan treatment for chondrosarcoma with two goals in mind: to cure the cancer and to preserve as much function as possible. Surgery is the main treatment option for this disease because chondrosarcoma typically does not respond to radiation and chemotherapy as well as do other sarcomas. Mayo physicians will sometimes recommend chemotherapy for metastatic spread of the disease or the combination of surgery and radiation (intraoperative, external beam) for patients whose cancer returns at the initial site. Read more about treatment of chondrosarcoma.
Bone cancer is very rare. Approximately 2000 cases of primary bone cancer are diagnosed in the United States each year. Experts consider chondrosarcoma, a cancer that affects cartilage cells, to be the second most common type (after osteosarcoma) of bone cancer. Chondrosarcoma accounts for 26 percent of primary bone cancers. Typical locations for chondrosarcoma tumors to develop are the legs, arms or pelvis of adults ages 50 to 70.
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