Rare case of a primary intracranial chondrosarcoma.

BACKGROUND

Intracranial chondrosarcomas comprise 6% of all skull base neoplasms and account for 0.15% of all intracranial tumors. They are potentially fatal, invading the brain and elevating intracranial pressure by progressive enlargement. Diplopia and headache are the most common clinical symptoms. Previous data indicate a particularly aggressive behavior of intracranial chondrosarcomas.

METHODS

A 17-year-old female patient presented to the hospital with focal seizures. A magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) scan revealed a brain tumor located in the right meso-temporal region. Total tumor resection, followed by conformal proton therapy was performed. The tumor displayed a chondroid differentiation, and accordingly, a chondrosarcoma was diagnosed. At follow-up investigation two years after the resection of the tumor, the patient was in a good general state of health and no tumor recurrence had occurred.

CONCLUSIONS

Intracranial chondrosarcoma is a differential diagnosis for intracranial tumors of the skull base. State-of-the-art therapy should comprise of surgical resection and adjuvant radiotherapy. Previously published data about intracranial chondrosarcomas indicate the extreme aggressiveness of this tumor entity.