Conventional Cartilaginous Tumors: Evaluation and Treatment

Enchondromas are benign cartilaginous lesions that rarely require surgical intervention.

Atypical cartilaginous tumors (ACTs), also referred to as grade-1 chondrosarcomas, may be managed without any intervention or with extended intralesional curettage and bone-void filling.

High-grade chondrosarcomas, or grade-2 and 3 chondrosarcomas, should be managed aggressively with wide resection.

Chemotherapy and radiation do not currently play a role in the treatment of chondrosarcomas.

Differentiating an enchondroma from an ACT and an ACT from a high-grade chondrosarcoma can be difficult and requires clinical experience, radiographic and advanced imaging, and possibly a biopsy. Ultimately, a multidisciplinary team that includes a musculoskeletal oncologist, a radiologist, and a pathologist is needed to make the most appropriate diagnosis and treatment plan for each patient.