Primary mesenchymal chondrosarcoma of the adult lumbar spine: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND: Primary mesenchymal chondrosarcoma (PMC) is a relatively rare malignancy that can occur in bone or soft tissue, but rarely in the lumbar spine; there is currently no unified treatment. We report a case of mesenchymal chondrosarcoma originating from the L1 vertebra. CASE DESCRIPTION: A 47-year-old female patient was admitted to the hospital with intermittent low back pain for 20 years, accompanied by intermittent headache and radiating pain in both lower limbs. After admission, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed bone destruction of the L1 vertebral body and accessories and a surrounding soft tissue mass. Enhanced MRI revealed significant enhancement of the L1 vertebral body and soft tissue mass. Technetium 99 m-methylene diphosphonate (99 m Tc-MDP) bone scan showed abnormally high metabolism in the L1 vertebral body, which is highly suspicious of malignancy, and vertebral biopsy revealed a soft tissue malignancy originating from the mesenchymal tissue. Total vertebrectomy combined with postoperative adjuvant radiotherapy was planned, but the patient refused radiotherapy for financial reasons. Intraoperative frozen sections indicated mesenchymal chondrosarcoma, as confirmed by postoperative pathological examination. After 1 year of outpatient follow-up, the patient had no related symptoms, and normal motor and sensory function, and her condition had improved. CONCLUSIONS: Total tumor resection is an effective treatment for PMC, and increased attention to this disease in the clinic is essential.