Chondrosarcoma Health Dictionary

A rare disorder, also called multiple enchondromatosis, that is present from birth and characterized by the presence of multiple tumours of cartilaginous tissue within the bones of a limb.

It is caused by a failure of normal bone development from cartilage.

The bones are shortened, resulting in deformity.

Rarely, a tumour may become cancerous (see chondrosarcoma).... dyschondroplasia

A cancer of connective tissue.

Types are osteosarcoma, Kaposi’s sarcoma, chondrosarcoma, and fibrosarcoma.... sarcoma

Malignant growth in bone, which may originate in the bone itself (primary bone cancer) or, more commonly, occur as a result of cancer spreading from elsewhere in the body (secondary, or metatastic, bone cancer). Primary bone cancers are rare. The type that occurs most often is osteosarcoma. Other types include chondrosarcoma and fibrosarcoma. Bone cancer can also start in the bone marrow (see multiple myeloma and leukaemia). The treatment of primary bone cancer depends on the extent to which the disease has spread. If it remains confined to bone, amputation may be recommended; but it may be possible to remove the cancer and fill the defect with a bone graft. Radiotherapy or chemotherapy, or both, may also be needed

The cancers that spread readily to form secondary bone cancer are those of the breast, lung, prostate, thyroid, and kidney.

These bone metastases occur commonly in the spine, pelvis, ribs, and skull.

Pain is usually the main symptom.

Affected bones are abnormally fragile and may easily fracture.

Bone cancer that affects the spine may cause collapse or crushing of vertebrae, damaging the spinal cord and causing weakness or paralysis of one or more limbs.

Secondary bone cancers from the breast and prostate often respond to treatment with hormone antagonists.... bone cancer

a bony protuberance covered by a cap of cartilage arising usually from the end of a long bone, most commonly around the knee or shoulder. It is due to overgrowth of cartilage at the edge of the *physis (growth plate) of growing bones. The protuberance may be flattened (sessile) or stalklike (see exostosis) and usually appears before the age of 30, with patients complaining of either pain or a lump. There is a small incidence (1–2% in solitary lesions, higher if multiple) of malignant transformation of the cartilage cap into a *chondrosarcoma. If the lump causes symptoms or continues to grow in an adult, it should be excised.... osteochondroma