Chondrosarcoma of the temporomandibular disc: behavior over a 28-year observation period

Chondrosarcoma of the head and neck occurs infrequently, with a recorded prevalence of only 5 to 12% of all such tumors; this in total represents only 17 to 22% of all monostotic bone malignancies. Chondrosarcomas arising in the region of the temporomandibular joint are especially rare, with only 28-including subsets-recorded in the 6 decades since the first report in 1954. The lesion described in the present report would appear to be the first arising solely from the disc itself, and the postoperative period of observation is the longest on record. The patient's course over 27 years shows the need for ongoing vigilance in the management of this tumor.