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A multidisciplinary team approach to skull base chondrosarcomas
H A Crockard1, A Cheeseman, T Steel
1Department of Surgical Neurology, The National Hospital for Neurology and Neurosurgery, London, United Kingdom. A.Crockard@ion.ucl.ac.uk
Journal of Neurosurgery
|January 10, 2002
Summary
Skull base chondrosarcomas are rare tumors with a slow progression. Surgical cytoreduction offers a high survival rate, with 93% of patients alive at 5 years post-surgery.
Area of Science:
- Neurosurgery
- Oncology
- Pathology
Background:
- Skull base chondrosarcomas are rare compared to chordomas.
- These tumors present distinct prognostic and therapeutic challenges.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review the treatment experience and outcomes for skull base chondrosarcomas.
- To compare the progression and survival rates with skull base chordomas.
Main Methods:
- Prospective follow-up of 17 patients with histologically verified chondrosarcomas over 12 years.
- Maximum surgical cytoreduction was performed via direct surgical approaches.
- Radiotherapy was administered only to patients with the mesenchymal variant.
Main Results:
- The mean age at presentation was 35.9 years, with cranial nerve palsies being a common symptom.
- 93% of patients survived 5 years post-surgery, with a projected 10-year survival rate of 84%.
- Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma variants had poorer prognoses, with mortality at 20 and 36 months.
Conclusions:
- Skull base chondrosarcomas exhibit very slow progression.
- Aggressive surgical cytoreduction is a key treatment modality.
- Survival rates are favorable, particularly for non-mesenchymal variants.