Chondrosarcoma (CS) is a primary malignancy that often arises in the pelvis, ribs, or femur. It accounts for 20% of all malignant bone tumors, but for only less than 0.1% of all malignancies in the head and neck region, and is a rare tumor. We report a case of CS of the hyoid bone.
A 65-year-old woman presented to us with an 8-year history of swelling of the neck on the left side. Endoscopic examination revealed a submucosal tumor protruding into the left oropharyngeal lumen. There were no lower cranial nerve palsies or dysphagia/speech disorders. Imaging revealed a tumor localized in the left lower jaw space, measuring approximately 40 mm in diameter. Open biopsy was performed, which revealed the diagnosis of CS. Tumor resection was performed under general anesthesia, and the operation could be completed without complications. Postoperative histopathology revealed the diagnosis of CS of the hyoid bone. No evidence of recurrence has been noted until now, one year since the operation.
We encountered a case of primary CS, a rare tumor in the head and neck region, of the hyoid bone. An accurate diagnosis was made by open biopsy, and the tumor was safely resected. Although CS usually carries a relatively good prognosis, the recurrence rate is high and long-term follow-up of the patients is required.
