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Chondrosarcomas of the head and neck

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Abstract

Chondrosarcoma represents approximately 11 % of all primary malignant bone tumors. It is the second most common sarcoma arising in bone after osteosarcoma. Chondrosarcomas of the head and neck are rare and may involve the sinonasal tract, jaws, larynx or skull base. Depending on the anatomical location, the tumor can produce a variety of symptoms. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging are the preferred imaging modalities. The histology of conventional chondrosarcoma is relatively straightforward; major challenges are the distinction between grade I chondrosarcomas and chondromas, and the differential diagnosis with chondroblastic osteosarcoma and chondroid chordoma. Surgery alone or followed by adjuvant radiotherapy is the treatment of choice. Radiotherapy alone has also been reported to be effective and can be considered if mutilating radical surgery is the only curative alternative. The 5-year survival for chondrosarcoma reaches 80 %; distant metastases and/or local recurrences significantly worsen prognosis. The present review aims to summarize the current state of information about the biology, diagnosis and management of these rare tumors.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Otolaryngology, Hospital Universitario Central de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain

    Andrés Coca-Pelaz & Juan P. Rodrigo

  2. Instituto Universitario de Oncología del Principado de Asturias, Oviedo, Spain

    Juan P. Rodrigo

  3. Oral Pathology, School of Dentistry, University of Liverpool, Liverpool, UK

    Asterios Triantafyllou

  4. Department of Pathology, University of Arkansas for Medical Sciences, Little Rock, AR, USA

    Jennifer L. Hunt

  5. Department of Neurosurgery, University of Pittsburgh School of Medicine, Pittsburgh, PA, USA

    Juan C. Fernández-Miranda

  6. Department of Radiation Oncology, Institute of Oncology, Ljubljana, Slovenia

    Primož Strojan

  7. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, VU University Medical Center, Amsterdam, The Netherlands

    Remco de Bree

  8. ENT Clinic, University of Udine, Piazzale S. Maria della Misericordia, 33100, Udine, Italy

    Alessandra Rinaldo & Alfio Ferlito

  9. Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, Radboud University Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands

    Robert P. Takes

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  1. Andrés Coca-Pelaz
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  2. Juan P. Rodrigo
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  3. Asterios Triantafyllou
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  4. Jennifer L. Hunt
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  7. Remco de Bree
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  8. Alessandra Rinaldo
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  10. Alfio Ferlito
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Correspondence to Alfio Ferlito.

Additional information

This paper was written by members and invitees of the International Head and Neck Scientific Group (www.IHNSG.com).

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Coca-Pelaz, A., Rodrigo, J.P., Triantafyllou, A. et al. Chondrosarcomas of the head and neck. Eur Arch Otorhinolaryngol 271, 2601–2609 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-013-2807-3

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00405-013-2807-3

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