Mesenchymal chondrosarcoma: a clinicopathologic and flow cytometric study of 13 cases presenting in the central nervous system.
BACKGROUND
Mesenchymal chondrosarcomas arising in the central nervous system are extremely rare. Morphologic features have not been found to correlate reliably with prognosis.


METHODS
Eight intracranial and five intraspinal mesenchymal chondrosarcomas were reviewed with regard to location, treatment, and long term follow-up data. The histopathologic and immunohistochemical results, including Ki-67 nuclear staining frequency, were critically reviewed, and deoxyribonucleic acid content was analyzed by flow cytometry.


RESULTS
Microscopically, all 13 cases were remarkably similar. Immunoreactivity in the small cell component included vimentin in 100% and cytokeratin and glial fibrillary acidic protein in 25% of cases. S-100 immunoreactivity was noted in the cartilaginous component of 100% of cases, and in rare cells in the small cell component along the interface. Flow cytometry of the eight tumors studied revealed a diploid pattern in six, aneuploidy in two, and a wide range of S-phase fractions (0-36.5%).


CONCLUSIONS
Review of the literature and the findings of the current series indicates that mesenchymal chondrosarcomas presenting in the brain and spinal cord pursue a progressive course that correlates most reliably with extent of surgical resection. This limited retrospective study also suggests that survival may be shorter for those patients with a high S-phase fraction and a high Ki-67 staining frequency.
Rushing
E J
EJ
Department of Pathology, University of Texas Southwestern Medical Center at Dallas, Texas 75235-9072, USA.
Armonda
R A
RA
Ansari
Q
Q
Mena
H
H
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000782:Aneuploidy; D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D001932:Brain Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D002648:Child; D018211:Chondrosarcoma, Mesenchymal / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm / Q000032:analysis; D004171:Diploidy; D005260:Female; D005434:Flow Cytometry; D005500:Follow-Up Studies; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein / Q000032:analysis; D006801:Humans; D007150:Immunohistochemistry; D007633:Keratins / Q000032:analysis; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D009687:Nuclear Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D011379:Prognosis; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D016196:S Phase; D009418:S100 Proteins / Q000032:analysis; D013120:Spinal Cord Neoplasms / Q000235:genetics / Q000473:pathology* / Q000601:surgery; D015996:Survival Rate; D014746:Vimentin / Q000032:analysis
D000951:Antigens, Neoplasm; D004273:DNA, Neoplasm; D005904:Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein; D019394:Ki-67 Antigen; D009363:Neoplasm Proteins; D009687:Nuclear Proteins; D009418:S100 Proteins; D014746:Vimentin; D007633:Keratins