[A rare variant of chondrosarcoma--mesenchymal chondrosarcoma of the scapula]

A rarely occurring tumor, mesenchymal chondrosarcoma of the shoulder blade, is described. The tumor, found in a 19-year-old male, consisted of two components; a typical chondrosarcoma showing a moderate degree of anaplasia, and a tumor tissue composed of poorly differentiated cells with large numbers of thin-walled vessels. The two tissues were separated from each other by connective-tissue elements, though cells of the second component were seen in places to pass into the tissue of hyalin cartilage. This variant of chondrosarcoma proved to be highly sensitive to chemotherapy, allowing considerable prolongation of the patient's survival.