Primary synovial chondrosarcoma of the hip joint in a 45-year-old male: case report and literature review

Abstract

Synovial chondrosarcoma is a rare tumor, seen most commonly arising from antecedent synovial chondromatosis, the more common benign entity. The distinction between the two can be difficult on the basis of clinical, imaging, and histologic criteria. The authors report a case of pathologically proven synovial chondrosarcoma of the hip in a 45-year-old male initially treated for presumed synovial chondromatosis. The case is made more unusual by the fact that no evidence of co-existent synovial chondromatosis was noted at histology. The literature as regards synovial chondrosarcoma, both de novo and secondary cases, is reviewed.