A Sarcoma Masquerading as a Pseudotumor After Total Hip Arthroplasty: A Case Report

There is an increasing emphasis on adverse reactions to metal debris around prosthetic hip implants. We present a case report of a patient with increasing pain around a previous total hip arthroplasty and magnetic resonance imaging findings consistent with a pseudotumor. Serum metal ion levels were not elevated and initial biopsy findings inconclusive. The patient was diagnosed with an extraskeletal chondrosarcoma after revision total hip arthroplasty and subsequently underwent external hemipelvectomy with negative margins.

This report highlights the importance of remaining vigilant for malignant sarcomas presenting as pseudotumors around hip replacements, particularly in the absence of abnormal metal ion levels or definitive biopsy results.