Chondrosarcoma of the nasal septum

The case history is presented of a patient with a massive chondrosarcoma arising from the posterior part of the nasal septum, extending into the base of the skull to involve the right middle cranial fossa. Removal of the main bulk of the tumour was accomplished by means of a cranio-facial resection, and it is hoped that useful palliation has thus been achieved. The literature relating to this rare tumour is reviewed: only seven cases have been previously described in which the tumour is believed to have arisen from the nasal septum. It is generally accepted that chondrosarcomas are radio-insensitive, and that surgical excision is the only effective form of treatment.