Craniofacial chondrosarcomas: imaging findings in 15 untreated cases

Abstract

Radiographic findings of 15 untreated chondrosarcomas of the cranial and facial bones were reviewed. These tumors have a propensity to occur in the wall of a maxillary sinus, at the junction of sphenoid and ethmoid sinuses and vomer, and at the undersurface of the sphenoid bone. Because of its slow-growing nature, chondrosarcomas tend to be large, multilobulated, and sharply demarcated when detected. Frequent bone changes are a combination of erosion and destruction, with sharp transitional zones and absent periosteal reaction. Tumor matrix calcifications, not necessarily chondroid, are almost always present. Both CT and MR may be necessary for thorough evaluation of tumor extent.