[Long-term results of treatment for chondrosarcoma]

A series of 24 patients treated for chondrosarcoma between 1974 and 1991 is presented and compared with findings on patients treated from 1947 to 1973. Eleven patients were treated surgically alone, 7 were submitted to combined therapy (surgery and chemotherapy), in 6 cases palliative treatment was used. The survival after surgery ranged from 6 months to 23 years. Eleven patients died within 1 year after operation. Four patients lived longer than 5 years. Early diagnosis and treatment were prerequisites for good result. Radical resection of the tumor combined with chemotherapy resulted in extending patient's life; amputation had no such effect.