Multiple cutaneous metastases of a scapular chondrosarcoma

The onset of metastatic chondrosarcoma in a young woman was heralded by the appearance of multiple firm, tender, cutaneous nodules two years after the primary tumor in the left scapula had been resected. Chondrosarcoma rarely metastasizes to the skin, but when it does, it may have an identical histological appearance to a cartilaginous tumor of the skin, an entity that is generally considered clinically benign. Although it is very unlikely that an occult chondrosarcoma will be first manifested clinically by a solitary cutaneous metastasis, the abrupt appearance of multiple cutaneous cartilaginous lesions would seem to warrant an investigation for primary chondrosarcoma.