title: Chondrosarcomas of the skull base and temporal bone.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the clinical presentation and outcomes of treatment for patients with chondrosarcomas involving the skull base and temporal bone.
  
  
  METHODS
  Retrospective review.
  
  
  METHODS
  Tertiary medical centre.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cases of histologically confirmed chondrosarcoma involving the skull base and temporal bones.
  
  
  METHODS
  Surgery.
  
  
  METHODS
  Demographic features of presenting patients; presenting symptoms and signs; surgical approach employed; use of post-operative radiation therapy; histological grade of tumour; and interval of post-operative follow up.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Twelve patients were identified with chondrosarcomas involving the skull base, with post-operative follow up ranging from three to 33 years. The average age at presentation was 42 years. The most common presenting symptoms were diplopia, decreased visual acuity and headaches. Five of the 12 patients required multiple surgical procedures.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Patients with chondrosarcoma involving the skull base and temporal bone may present in a variety of ways. Surgical resection, even subtotal, in combination with radiation therapy, can often provide good tumour control over many years for these rare tumours.
authors.affiliation: Department of Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery, University of California, San Francisco, California 94143-0342, USA. llustig@ohns.ucsf.edu
authors.forename: L R
authors.initials: LR
authors.lastname: Lustig
authors.forename: J
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Sciubba
authors.forename: M J
authors.initials: MJ
authors.lastname: Holliday
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D002648:Child; D002813:Chondrosarcoma / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D004172:Diplopia / Q000209:etiology; D005157:Facial Pain / Q000209:etiology; D005260:Female; D006261:Headache / Q000209:etiology; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D019292:Skull Base Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery; D012888:Skull Neoplasms / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000601:surgery*; D013701:Temporal Bone; D016896:Treatment Outcome