The size of local recurrence influences outcomes in chondrosarcoma: Significant impact observed in grade 2 tumours

Chondrosarcoma is the second most common bone malignancy. Chondrosarcoma is considered a surgical disease, and the role of surgical margin is important since local recurrence is known to decrease survival. The aim of this study was to investigate the timing of local recurrence and the size of local recurrence in post local recurrence survival in chondrosarcoma.

We reviewed data from one international tertiary sarcoma hospital. Between 1990 and 2022, 911 patients with chondrosarcoma of the pelvis and extremities were identified and 161 (18 %) had a local recurrence. Competing risk analysis was used to identify the timing and size of local recurrence in post local recurrence survival in different grades.

Increasing size of local recurrence was a statistically significant negative factor in grade 2 chondrosarcoma patients. The timing of local recurrence was not significant for post local recurrence survival. Only 7 % of the local recurrences in high grade tumours were detected after five years after index surgery.

In this study we have shown that the size of local recurrence emerges as a significant factor in grade 2 tumours. Timing of local recurrence does not significantly predict the post local recurrence survival. Moreover, only 7 % of local recurrences are detected after five years in high grade tumours. Therefore, we recommend that active surveillance efforts be particularly focused on grade 2 chondrosarcomas during the initial five years after index surgery.