A case of chondrosarcoma of the clavicle protruding to the mediastinum

Abstract

A 27-year-old man had a cough from 6 months previous. Chest CT and MRI showed a mass arising from the proximal head of the right clavicle and penetrating into the mediastinal area. The mass measured about 7 cm in diameter. Although a diagnosis of osteochondroma was made from a tumor biopsy, we suspected the tumor to be a chondrosarcoma by the findings of chest CT and MRI. We performed a wide resection of the tumor with a part of the right 1st, 2nd and 3rd ribs and sternum. The thoracic skeletal defect was reconstructed with Marlex mesh. Histological examination revealed grade 1 chondrosarcoma. This was a very interesting case in that the chondrosarcoma was of clavicular origin and the tumor was considered to be secondary chondrosarcoma because the patient had shown an abnormal shadow on a chest X-ray from 8 years previous.