A case of chondrosarcoma of the rib

fine needle aspiration cytology and cytologic differential diagnosis

Abstract

We report a case of chondrosarcoma of the rib. The patient, a 68-year-old man, had complained of left frontal chest pains. Examinations by CT scan and MRI revealed a well-outlined mass measuring 2×3 cm corresponding to the IV th left costal cartilage. A specimen obtained by fine needle aspiration showed round or oval cells dispersed or arranged in small sheets in a cartilagenous stroma. The tumor cells varied in size. Some cells with foamy cytoplasm containing large vacuoles possessed large nuclei with prominent nucleoli and binucleated tumor cells were occasionally recognized.
These cytological findings made the diagnosis of well differentiated chondrosarcoma of the IV th rib. The differen tial diagnosis from several mesenchymal neoplasms containing cartilagenous stroma is also briefly discussed herein.