Chondrosarcoma natural history

Complications that can develop as a result of chondrosarcoma are metastasis and recurrence. The prognosis of chondrosarcoma correlates with the grade and stage of the lesion at the time of diagnosis. Chondrosarcoma is associated with a 5 year survival rate of 70%. The presence of grade 3 lesions are associated with a particularly poor prognosis.

• Chondrosarcoma may metastatize to other organs.^[1]
• Lung is the most common location for metastatic disease.
• Chondrosarcoma can rarely metastatize to skin.^[1]
• Chondrosarcoma may recur and may need treatment with surgery, chemotherapy or radiation.
• Unlike other cancers, chondrosarcoma can return many years later.
• Follow up scans are extremely important for chondrosarcoma to make sure there has been no recurrence or metastasis.

• The prognosis of chondrosarcoma correlates with the grade and stage of the lesion at the time of diagnosis.^[2]
  • Prognosis varies with grade:^[3]
  • Grade I tumors – 90% survival at 5 years
  • Grade II tumors – 81% survival at 5 years
  • Grade III tumors – 29% survival at 5 years
• Depending upon the subtype, prognosis vary substantially:^[4]
  • Clear cell chondrosarcoma: 70% survival rate at 5 years.
  • Myxoid chondrosarcoma: 70% survival rate at 5 years.
  • Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma: < 50% survival rate at 5 years.
  • Dedifferentiated chondrosarcoma: 10% survival rate after 1 year.
• Prognosis varies with location:^[5]
  • Long bones have a better prognosis than axial skeleton.