Chondrosarcoma

Diagnosis

Tests and procedures used to diagnose chondrosarcoma may include:

• Physical exam – Your doctor will ask about your symptoms and perform a physical examination to gather information about your condition.

• Imaging tests – These may include X-rays, bone scans, MRI, or CT scans to locate and evaluate the tumor.

• Biopsy – A biopsy involves removing a sample of suspicious tissue to determine if it’s cancerous. The sample is analyzed in a laboratory by medical specialists.

How the biopsy is done depends on the tumor’s location. Proper planning is important to ensure that the biopsy does not interfere with future surgery. Ask your healthcare provider for a referral to a team experienced in treating chondrosarcoma.

Treatment

Chondrosarcoma treatment typically focuses on surgical removal of the cancer. Other treatments may be used depending on tumor size, growth rate, spread, overall health, and personal preferences.

Surgery

The goal of surgery is to remove the cancer along with a margin of healthy tissue. The type of surgery depends on the tumor’s location. Options may include:

• Scraping the cancer from the bone – Smaller, slow-growing chondrosarcomas in the arms or legs may be treated by scraping out cancer cells. The surgeon may use cold gas or chemicals to destroy any remaining cells, and the bone may be repaired with a bone graft or cement.

• Removing the cancer and surrounding tissue – Most chondrosarcomas require removal of part of the bone to ensure all cancer is cleared. In severe cases, amputation might be needed, though limb-sparing surgery is often possible. Surgeons may reconstruct or replace the affected bone to preserve the limb.

Radiation therapy

Radiation therapy uses high-energy beams, such as X-rays or protons, to destroy cancer cells. During treatment, you lie on a table while a machine directs radiation at precise areas of your body.

Radiation may be recommended for tumors in difficult-to-operate areas, or when complete surgical removal isn’t possible. It can also help control the spread of cancer to other body parts.

Chemotherapy

Chemotherapy uses drugs to kill cancer cells. It’s not typically used for chondrosarcoma because this type of cancer often resists chemotherapy. However, in fast-growing or aggressive forms, chemotherapy may help slow disease progression.