Chondrosarcoma of the sternum: A rare and challenging entity

Abstract

Background: Chondrosarcoma is a relatively common primary malignant bone tumor, with the sternum being an unusual location. When this tumor arises in the sternum, clinicians encounter diagnostic and therapeutic complexities. Indeed, the sternal location warrants attention due to its potential for local invasion, metastasis, and poor prognosis. Nonetheless, optimal treatment strategies remain contentious, hampered by the limited number of reported cases and a scarcity of dedicated research on sternal chondrosarcomas.Case presentation: A 82-year-old male, presented with sternal pain. CT scan, revealed loss of sternal continuity and a destructive mixed lesion involving the sternal body with extensive cortical lysis and infiltration of adjacent soft tissues. A biopsy confirmed the diagnosis of grade II chondrosarcoma without evidence of metastasis. The patient underwent surgical resection due to the absence of metastasis.Discussion: sternal chondrosarcoma is a relatively frequent primary malignant bone tumor.Imaging techniques, including X-ray, CT, MRI, and PET scans, play a crucial role in diagnosis. Management of this tumor involves surgical resection with the goal of complete tumor removal. Prognosis depends on factors such as cancer stage, histological grade, tumor size, presence of metastases, and response to treatment. High grade and larger tumors, the presence of metastases are associated with a poorer prognosis.