Lymph node metastasis in extremity chondrosarcomas: A series of four cases

BACKGROUND: Primary bone sarcomas mainly metastasize through haematogenous route and rarely through lymph nodes due to paucity of lymphatic channels in the bone (1). Nodal spread in chondrosarcoma is extremely rare and there are two reported cases in literature including one previously published by our institute (3, 5). AIMS AND OBJECTIVES: We present a series of chondrosarcoma cases (primary tumour located in the scapula, proximal femur, proximal humerus and pelvis), presenting with lymph node metastasis, treated at our institute. We assessed the oncological outcome of these cases and the impact of nodal metastasis on survival. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between January 2006 and December 2015, 243 patients of extremity and pelvic chondrosarcoma were operated at our institute. These cases were retrieved from a prospectively maintained database. Four (1.6%) of these patients developed lymph node metastasis. Clinical and radiological details of these cases were retrieved from electronic medical records and case files. Histopathology of the primary chondrosarcoma lesion and nodal metastasis was reconfirmed by a pathologist specializing in sarcomas. CONCLUSION: Lymph node metastasis though extremely rare in primary osseous chondrosarcoma, definitely affects their survival adversely. The rarity of the occurrence of lymph node metastasis in primary osseous tumors, especially chondrosarcoma highlights the need for multi institutional studies to pool knowledge and evaluate the prognostic significance and etiopathogenesis of lymph node metastasis in primary bone chondrosarcoma.