Chondrosarcoma of the Mobile Spine in the Elderly: A National Cancer Database Study

The current research on geriatric patients with spinal chondrosarcoma is limited. This study aimed to investigate the demographics, patterns of care, and survival of geriatric patients with chondrosarcoma of the mobile spine.

The National Cancer Database was queried from 2008 to 2018 for geriatric patients (60-89 years) with chondrosarcoma of the mobile spine. The primary outcome of this study was overall survival. The secondary outcome was treatment utilization patterns. Survival analyses were conducted using log-rank tests and Cox proportional hazards regressions. Logistic regression models were utilized to assess correlations between baseline variables and treatment utilization.

The database retrieved 122 patients. While 43.7% of the patients presented with tumors exceeding 5 cm in size, the incidence of regional lymph node involvement or distant metastases was relatively low, affecting only 5% of the patients. Furthermore, 22.3% of the patients had tumors graded as 3-4. The 5-year overall survival rate was 52.9% (95% confidence interval: 42-66.6). The mortality risk was significantly associated with age, tumor grade and stage, and treatment plan. Most patients (79.5%) underwent surgery, while 35.9% and 4.2% were treated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy, respectively. Age, race, comorbidities, geographical region, tumor stage, and healthcare facility type significantly correlated with treatment utilization.

Surgical resection significantly lowered the mortality risk in geriatric patients with spinal chondrosarcomas. Demographic and geographical factors significantly dictated treatment plans. Further studies are required to assess the role of radiotherapy and chemotherapy in treating these patients in the modern era.