title: Chondrosarcoma of the proximal phalanx of the fourth digit: a rare location.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  Cartilaginous tumors involving the small bones of the hands and feet are usually benign such as enchondroma, chondromyxoid fibroma and chondroblastoma. The small bones of the hands and feet are rarely involved by primary chondrosarcoma. Proximal phalanges are the most common sites in the hands, but the fourth digit is the least common site.
  
  
  METHODS
  We report a case of a 76-year-old Greek female who presented to our hospital with a painful swollen mass measuring 4.5 × 2.6 cm on the fourth digit of the left hand. The radiograph showed a destructive, permeative lytic tumor of the proximal phalanx with extension into soft tissue. The patient underwent curettage, and the microscopic examination of the specimen revealed grade 2 chondrosarcoma.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Cartilaginous tumors involving the small bones of the hands and feet are usually benign such as enchondroma, chondromyxoid fibroma and chondroblastoma. Primary chondrosarcoma is the third most common malignancy of bone after myeloma and osteosarcoma, but the small bones of the hands and feet are very rarely involved by chondrosarcoma (1% of all chondrosarcoma). However, in these cases differentiation between a benign lesion and chondrosarcoma may be difficult. Occasionally chondrosarcoma of the hands and feet is associated with multiple recurrences or distal metastasis.
authors.affiliation: Department of Pathology, 'Tzaneion' General Hospital of Piraeus, Piraeus, Larissa, Greece.
authors.forename: Thivi
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Vasilakaki
authors.forename: Aikaterini
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Tsavari
authors.forename: Evangelia
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Skafida
authors.forename: Kalliroi
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Koulia
authors.forename: Despina
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Myoteri
authors.forename: Xanthipi
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Grammatoglou
authors.forename: Alexandra
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Zisi
authors.forename: Nikolaos
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Firfiris
authors.forename: Kassiani
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Manoloudaki