Scapula chondrosarcoma: A case report

RATIONALE: Chondrosarcoma is a malignant mesenchymal tumor originating from cartilage. The pelvis, ribs, femur, and humerus are the most frequently affected sites, and scapula involvement is relatively rare. The aim of the present study was to report a case of chondrosarcoma in the scapula. PATIENT CONCERNS: A 42-year-old woman presented with a 3-month history of a painful mass in the right scapula. DIAGNOSES AND INTERVENTION: The patient underwent tumor resection. The post-operative pathological diagnosis was scapula chondrosarcoma. OUTCOMES: Following resection, the patient continued to receive routine follow-up care. There was no recurrence or tumor metastasis at a follow-up of 5 years. CONCLUSIONS: Surgery remains the primary therapy for chondrosarcoma. One of the greatest challenges in the management of chondrosarcoma is to accurately assess tumor grade before surgical intervention. Chemotherapy and radiotherapy have been applied without success. Chemo- and radioresistance have been examined beyond classic phenotypic properties to identify more efficient therapeutic strategies. Therefore, development of future novel therapies is contingent upon elucidating the molecular mechanisms of chondrosarcoma.