Peripheral chondrosarcoma of the hyoid bone. Report of a case

The case of a 31-year-old man with a neck mass of 7 months' duration is described. An X-ray examination showed a tumor originating from the right greater horn of the hyoid bone that pushed the larynx and pharynx to the left. Upon visual inspection the tumor seemed to be cartilaginous in nature. Histologically it was a well-differentiated chondrosarcoma that originated from the periphery of the hyoid bone. Ultrastructural study demonstrated an abundant rough endoplasmic reticulum, a particularly well-developed Golgi apparatus, and pleomorphic microvilli. 10 months after excision, a local recurrence invaded the primary marrow spaces of the hyoid bone. A review of the literature indicates that the prognosis of this tumor is unfavorable and that the recurrence of hyoid bone chondrosarcoma generally is less differentiated than the primary tumor.